KEY POINTS
- Talks included ways to strengthen US–Qatar strategic ties
- Focus on Gaza and ceasefire efforts
- Rubio’s visit came one day after Gulf and Muslim leaders held an emergency summit in Doha
- Israel announces the beginning of its main ground operation to seize Gaza City
DOHA, Qatar: Qatar and the United States have reviewed regional and international developments, most notably the repercussions of the treacherous Israeli attack on Doha.
This came during a meeting between Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Secretary of State of the United States of America Marco Rubio in Doha on Tuesday, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
It said that during the meeting, they discussed strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them, particularly in the defense field.
It further said the two sides also discussed the most prominent regional and international developments of common concern, most notably the repercussions of the treacherous Israeli attack on Doha, in addition to the future of joint diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and prisoners, and de-escalation in the region.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, in a statement on X, said the two sides have reaffirmed the enduring US-Qatar security partnership and our shared commitment to a safer, more stable region.
“I thanked him for Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas and to bring the hostages home,” he said.
Met with Qatari Amir Sheikh @TamimbinHamad and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister @MBA_AlThani_ in Doha today. We reaffirmed the enduring U.S.-Qatar security partnership and our shared commitment to a safer, more stable region. I thanked him for Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts… pic.twitter.com/GUTmi2SZvK
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 16, 2025
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, said bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between Qatar and the US were discussed in the talks. The attack on Doha and the repercussions of the Israeli war on Gaza were a key part of the meeting.
“Our relations with the United States are strategic, especially on the defence level, and this was part of the discussion during his (Rubio) visit ….We are determined to defend our sovereignty and take measures to prevent any recurrence of any attack,” he added.
Rubio arrived in Doha a week after Israel carried out strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, drawing international condemnation.
His visit comes a day after Gulf states pledged to activate a joint defence pact as Arab and Islamic leaders stood in solidarity against Israel’s attack during an emergency summit in Qatar.
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Monday accused Israel of exploiting the war in Gaza as a cover to expand settlements and alter the status quo, warning that negotiations were being used as a pretext for continued military operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.
“If Israel aims to assassinate Hamas leaders, why is it negotiating with them?” the Qatari Amir said in his statement to Arab and Muslim leaders gathered for an emergency summit in Doha on Monday.
Israel announced on Tuesday it had started the main part of a ground operation to seize Gaza City, soon after Rubio left Tel Aviv.
