US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order pledging to use all measures, including U.S. military action, to defend Qatar, one of America’s wealthiest but most vulnerable Gulf partners.

The order, dated Monday and released on the White House website on Wednesday, declares that any armed attack on Qatar’s “territory, sovereignty or critical infrastructure” will be treated as a threat to the United States itself.

“In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures, including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military, to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar,” the text reads.

Why this matters now

The move comes just days after Israel’s surprise strike in Doha killed six people, includin

See Full Page