US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday stating that the US will consider any attack on Qatar an attack on the United States and will employ any necessary diplomatic, economic, or military efforts to protect the nation.

US Executive Order No. 14361 expands the nations’ longtime mutually-beneficial relationship. That relationship formally began in 1972, shortly after Qatar gained independence in 1971, and has since involved partnership and cooperation in conflicts like the Gulf War in 1991. In 2022, former President Joe Biden designated Qatar as a non-NATO ally, granting the country special military and economic privileges.

Trump stated that he wishes to further formalize the relationship through a policy in which the US “shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”

The commitment comes after Israeli military forces executed an attack targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital city, Doha, on September 9. The targets were those who were allegedly responsible for the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, and the operation resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members and one Qatari security officer. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated after the attack that Trump was in contact with Qatar leaders, assuring “that such a thing will not happen again on their soil” and calling the attack an “unfortunate incident.” 

The order drew criticism from commentators and American politicians, who have argued that the order seemingly came “out of the blue” and lacked prior public debate.