Qatar launched a diplomatic push with the Trump administration this week as senior officials from both nations met in Washington and Doha.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani traveled to the U.S. capital for back-to-back meetings with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday and Thursday. Al-Thani and Vance discussed “the strong, strategic bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the US, as well as the means to enhance them,” Qatar’s foreign ministry said. The meeting also covered “several topics of joint interest.” (RELATED: Here’s What Could Come Of Trump’s Whirlwind Middle Eastern Tour)
The prime minister then sat down with Rubio to launch the seventh U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue. The two leaders reaffirmed their nations’ partnership and discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation on economic and security goals, according to the State Department.
Met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister @MBA_AlThani_ today to launch the seventh annual U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue. We discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation on shared economic and strategic goals in the Middle East and across the world. pic.twitter.com/2x3t6aUltQ
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) December 17, 2025
“The Secretary expressed appreciation for Qatar’s role in supporting American objectives in the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere, and reiterated both countries’ desire for close collaboration on shared goals,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Qatar’s National Command Center, where Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani hosted her for a tour.
Noem received briefings on command and control systems, advanced monitoring technologies, and the center’s role in crisis management, Qatar’s interior ministry said. She also visited the Tournament Command Center, which handles security operations for major sporting events.
Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East.