US President Donald Trump met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during a refueling stop at Al Udeid Air Base on his way to Asia.
The Qatari leaders, key mediators in the fragile Gaza peace deal, boarded Air Force One for talks focused on maintaining regional stability. Trump praised Qatar’s crucial role in Middle East diplomacy, calling the prime minister “a friend to the world.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, returning from Israel after efforts to sustain the Gaza truce, also attended the meeting. Reporters were escorted out before questions could be taken.
This marks Trump’s first trip to Asia since retaking office in January, where he will attend regional summits and meet leaders including China’s Xi Jinping.
Qatar has been instrumental in mediating indirect talks between Israel and Hamas alongside Egypt, the US, and Turkey. Earlier this week, Sheikh Tamim met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss post-truce arrangements, such as forming a Gaza security force and determining Hamas’s future role.
Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Qatar’s prime minister has led diplomatic efforts to sustain negotiations and prevent further escalation in the region
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