The ongoing mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip will also be on the agenda of Trump’s visit, Davis confirmed.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s highly-anticipated Middle East trip is kicking off this week, with Qatar among the key stops of his tour, which is set to mark “an age of understanding” between both countries.
“The president’s visit is a great way to kick off what I think is an age of understanding between the United States and Qatar,” Timmy Davis, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, told the press in Doha on Sunday.
Trump is set to embark on his first Middle East tour since returning to office, running from May 13 to 16, with scheduled stops in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will accompany Trump during his visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the State Department announced on Sunday.
The last visit by a sitting U.S. president to Qatar was in 2003, when George W. Bush visited the Central Command headquarters.
At the time, Bush met with Qatar’s then-Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and addressed American military personnel at the Al Udeid Air Base—the largest U.S. military post in the region.
Davis told the press in Doha that Trump’s visit “feels like a crescendo” and a moment of celebration of Doha and Washington’s ties, with several agreements and announcements expected to take place.
The visit also comes at a critical time, with the Gulf state playing key mediation roles in recent years, most notably its current efforts between Hamas and Israel.
“Qatar’s efforts at mediation in the region have only grown. You’ve seen their work in Lebanon, Afghanistan, and North Africa. All of these things that Qatar does with the United States have only become more powerful and of greater use to the world,” he said.
Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. have been mediating between Hamas and Israel in an effort to reach a deal that would result in a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli captives.
The mediators had brokered a truce deal on January 15, which Israel ended on March 18 with resuming its genocidal war in the Gaza Strip while completely blocking the entry of aid.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 61,700 people in the Gaza Strip, according to a revised figure by the local health ministry. However, the figure is believed to be significantly higher with thousands trapped under the rubble.
The ongoing mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip will also be on the agenda of Trump’s visit, Davis confirmed.
“As a mediator, what’s happening in the region will absolutely be a part of this visit,” Davis said.
Strategic defence ties
Qatar and the U.S. have also enjoyed strong defence relations.
In January 2024, the U.S. agreed to extend its military presence at the base in Qatar for another decade.
The U.S. also accounts for 48 percent of Qatar’s arms supply, according to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) fact sheet.
Meanwhile, in 2022, former U.S. President Joe Biden designated Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) as he met with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Washington. The designation grants Washington’s foreign partners several benefits in areas concerning defence trade and security cooperation.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Sheikh Tamim in Doha.
