DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump has recently enacted an executive order, pledging to employ every method at his disposal, including military force if necessary, to protect Qatar, a nation known for its significant energy resources. However, the actual impact and seriousness of this commitment remain somewhat ambiguous.

Released on the White House’s official website on Wednesday, though marked with Monday’s date, the document seems to be Trump’s reassurance to Qatar following the unexpected Israeli assault aimed at Hamas leaders amidst discussions about a ceasefire with Israel regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The order emphasizes the strong collaborative relationship and mutual interests between the two nations, promising to “defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Qatar against external threats.”

“The United States will consider any armed attack on Qatar’s territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure as a threat to its own peace and security,” the executive order states.

“Should such an attack occur, the United States is committed to taking all necessary and lawful measures — be they diplomatic, economic, or military — to protect the interests of both the United States and Qatar, and to reestablish regional stability,” it adds.

The executive order was apparently issued in conjunction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. During this visit, Trump facilitated a phone conversation between Netanyahu and Qatar, during which Netanyahu expressed his regret for an airstrike that resulted in six casualties, including one Qatari security personnel, according to the White House.

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Qatari officials have not yet commented on Trump’s executive order. However, the state-funded Al Jazeera network has prominently featured the news, describing it as “Trump’s new executive order ensuring Qatar’s security following the Israeli attack.”

While the commitment appears solid, its legal enforceability is uncertain since typically treaties requiring U.S. Senate approval are considered binding. Yet, there have been instances, such as President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran in 2015, where international agreements were made without Senate consent.

Ultimately, the decision to deploy military forces lies with the President. This ambiguity has previously cast a shadow over other defense commitments made during Trump’s second term, such as the assurances under NATO’s Article 5.

Qatar, a peninsular Arab country jutting into the Persian Gulf, has amassed considerable wealth from its extensive natural gas reserves. It is a crucial military ally to the U.S., hosting the Central Command’s forward base at the expansive Al Udeid Air Base. In 2022, due to its strategic importance and support during the tumultuous U.S. exit from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.

Following the Israeli strike, Saudi Arabia entered into a defense pact with Pakistan, effectively bringing the kingdom under Islamabad’s nuclear protection. Given the ongoing regional tensions with Israel and the renewed U.N. sanctions on Iran concerning its nuclear activities, it remains uncertain if other Gulf Arab states will seek similar security agreements with their traditional protector, the United States.

“The strategic importance of the Gulf region to the Middle East and its significance to the United States necessitate explicit American guarantees beyond President Trump’s assurances and formal dinners,” stated Bader al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University who specializes in Gulf Arab affairs.

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