Qatar wants to strengthen its defence partnership with the United States in the wake of Iranian air strikes on Qatari territory, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, while stressing that the existing bilateral arrangements remain an important deterrent.
Iran launched missile and drone attacks on its oil-producing Gulf neighbours after U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed its top leaders. The conflict disrupted output in the region and sent oil prices surging.
Qatar hosts the biggest U.S. base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base, which was attacked by Iran during the war that erupted on February 28. In comments at a media briefing, Majed Al Ansari, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said the security partnership with the United States "was not in question, but added that its deals with the U.S. and European countries need to be strengthened."
Al Ansari emphasized the role of international partnerships in Qatar's immediate defence posture. "The partnerships are the main stop-gap and deterrent against any attack on our country," he said. He also warned of the limits of deterrence if the situation escalates: "When things go out of control and spiral, the result is deterrents do not work... But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have deterrents. You should strengthen these deterrents and that is exactly what are we trying to do right," Al Ansari added.
The presence of Al Udeid Air Base, described as the largest U.S. facility in the Middle East, and the fact it was targeted by Iran underline Doha's exposure amid the wider confrontation. The strikes that followed the U.S.-Israeli operation have had tangible effects on regional energy production and market pricing, according to the reporting on the incident.
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged in October to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States’ own security. Iran has vowed to retaliate against U.S. targets in the region in case of any attack.
Doha's call to reinforce existing security arrangements with the United States and European partners reflects concern that current deterrents may prove insufficient if hostilities broaden. The Qatari government is therefore seeking to deepen ties and ensure that protective measures evolve alongside the shifting security environment.