US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday (September 29) guaranteeing Qatar’s security against any armed attack, treating it “a threat to the peace and security of the United States.” The move is an unprecedented step in the US’s bilateral relationship with Qatar, especially given its status as a major non-NATO ally.Trump signed the order, titled “Assuring the Security of the State of Qatar”, three weeks after surprise Israeli strikes into the tiny Arab nation, which reportedly targeted Hamas leaders in the country. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had then described the attack as “state terror.”According to the order, the US will “take all lawful and appropriate measures” if Qatar faces an armed attack.“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 and to restore peace and stability,” it says.Qatar’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the development and called the promise “an important step in strengthening the two countries’ close defense partnership.”Here is what to know.1 – Balancing act with IsraelThe order, although signed on Monday, was made public three days later. Trump on Monday presented the 20-point “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza conflict”, amidst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House.During the visit, Trump authorised a phone call between Netanyahu and al Thani, in which the Israeli PM “expressed his deep regret” for violating Qatar’s sovereignty through the military strikes. The apology had been a major demand of the Qatari side, even as it continues to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end Israel’s war in Gaza. Qatar has housed Hamas’s political office for over a decade, with the US’s approval.Story continues below this adThe apology was a volte face from Netanyahu’s public position in the immediate aftermath of the strikes. He had then threatened to launch fresh attacks on Qatar if it continued to house Hamas officials.Interestingly, a previous version of Trump’s plan for Gaza had included an additional point specifying Israel would not attack Qatar.2 – NATO level assurances for a non-NATO allyIn 2022, former US President Joe Biden designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, partly rewarding the Gulf state for its work in helping the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan after nearly two decades.Qatar is also home to the Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US military base in the Middle East. The Arab state also has significant investments in American assets and is a major exporter of liquefied natural gas.Story continues below this adThe language in the order mirrors NATO messaging, most notably NATO’s Article 5, which treats an attack against any member of the organisation as “an attack against them all.” The provision also authorises other members to “assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking” any necessary action, “including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.”The order explicitly states that White House military and intelligence leaders “shall maintain joint contingency planning with the State of Qatar to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to any foreign aggression against the State of Qatar”. However, the odds of a US military intervention remain questionable.3 – Highlights Trump’s proximity to QatarFor Qatar, the order is a unique feat made possible purely by its leverage as a valued US ally following the Israeli strikes.On one hand, this was made possible partly by Trump’s personal association with the country, through the Trump Organization’s investments in Qatar. His visit to Qatar in May, one of three Arab nations he has visited in his second term, yielded an agreement to generate $1.2 trillion in economic exchange, and the Qatari royal family gifted him a $400 million luxury Boeing 747 jet, which he announced he would use as the official presidential airline, Air Force One.Story continues below this adOn the other hand, no other Arab country in the Middle East has extracted a significant security guarantee from the US. Saudi Arabia, for instance, also a major ally of the US, has sought a defence pact for years but has been denied it thus far.4 – Executive order not legally bindingLegally binding agreements, or treaties, typically require approval from the US Senate. In taking the executive order route, Trump has bypassed this need. Furthermore, the president’s office approves all decisions concerning US military intervention. However, the order could be repealed by the next president.The announcement has already drawn the ire of fellow Republicans, who have expressed scepticism over extending a security guarantee to a country they have accused of committing human rights abuses and affiliating with terrorist groups. A section of the Grand Old Party had previously cried foul over the Qatari jet.