Trump Meets Qatar's Foreign Minister in New York for Two Hours Amid Regional Tensions

In a notable move amid rising regional tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump held a meeting described as "positive and wonderful" with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani  today, Saturday, in New York City.

According to a report by NewsNation correspondent, the meeting lasted for two hours, attended by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff , where both sides discussed several political and security issues, resulting in outcomes described as positive, with an agreement on future steps for cooperation.

This meeting comes less than 24 hours after a series of meetings held by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman in Washington with U.S. officials, most notably U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming that Sheikh Mohammed emphasized during his meetings in Washington that "the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to protect its security and sovereignty," in response to the sudden Israeli attack that targeted a compound in the Qatari capital, Doha, resulting in the deaths of at least six people, including leaders from the "Hamas" movement.

The ministry stated that the U.S. side expressed solidarity with Qatar, with Vice President Vance affirming the importance of diplomatic solutions to resolve crises in the region, expressing appreciation for Qatar's role in mediation and peacekeeping, and stressing that "Qatar is a reliable strategic ally of the United States."

For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the Israeli operation, stating that he is "not happy" with this move, amid reports indicating that the operation was carried out while Hamas was considering a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Israeli raid has sparked widespread international criticism, notably from the United Nations Security Council, and threatened to undermine the trilateral mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States to achieve a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

According to journalist Kelly Meyer on her account on the "X" platform (formerly Twitter), the meeting between Trump and Sheikh Mohammed began at 7:30 PM New York time and concluded just before 9:30 PM. Informed sources described the dinner as "wonderful, resulting in positive outcomes."

It is noteworthy that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has assumed the presidency of the Council of Ministers in Qatar alongside his role as Foreign Minister, and is known for his pivotal role in enhancing his country's relations with international powers, especially in regional mediation files.

These developments come at a time of serious escalation between Israel and the Hamas movement, and unprecedented diplomatic tensions following an unannounced Israeli bombing within Qatari territory, opening the door for a reassessment of regional alliances and the U.S. role in the region.