Washington, D.C( The COW News Digital)Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, held high-level meetings with senior U.S. officials in Washington ahead of his scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral security cooperation and addressing regional tensions following the recent Israeli airstrike on Doha.
According to official reports, Sheikh Mohammed met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both sides reviewed the current state of Qatar-U.S. relations, including military and counterterrorism partnerships. Washington continues to view Qatar as a critical ally in the Gulf region, hosting the strategically significant Al Udeid Air Base, which serves as a key operational hub for U.S. forces in the Middle East.
During the meeting, the Qatari Prime Minister expressed deep concern over the September 9 Israeli airstrike that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, though the senior Hamas leadership survived. He reiterated Qatar’s position that the attack was a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to ongoing mediation efforts to end the Gaza war.
Vice President Vance reportedly reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Qatar’s security and stability, stressing the need to prevent further escalation in the region. Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and protect civilians from further harm.
This round of talks is seen as laying the groundwork for Sheikh Mohammed’s highly anticipated meeting with President Trump later today. The discussions are expected to cover not only the Doha strike but also efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Political analysts say the visit highlights Qatar’s pivotal diplomatic role in regional peace efforts. The U.S. administration has expressed strong disapproval of Israel’s decision to strike Doha while Qatar was engaged in sensitive mediation talks, signaling growing friction between Washington and Tel Aviv over the incident.
Today’s meeting with President Trump is expected to further solidify U.S.-Qatar cooperation and may result in a joint statement urging de-escalation and renewed commitment to negotiations aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.
