US President Donald Trump is set to meet Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in New York, just days after an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeted senior Hamas leaders. The meeting, expected to be attended by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, underscores Washington’s intent to maintain close ties with Qatar despite the escalating crisis. Sheikh Al Thani arrived in the United States following a round of high-level discussions at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Reports described those talks as “very positive,” with both sides emphasizing Qatar’s ongoing role in Middle East peace negotiations and deepening defense cooperation between the two nations.

The bilateral engagement comes at a sensitive time, as Qatar prepares to host an emergency Arab summit in response to Israel’s recent military strike. According to officials, the Qatari leader’s talks with the US administration covered critical aspects of regional security, diplomatic coordination, and Qatar’s unique role as a mediator in ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas. Trump and Sheikh Al Thani are expected to share a private dinner in New York, joined by senior adviser Steve Witkoff, in what observers say could be a crucial step toward stabilizing US-Qatar relations amid growing Middle East volatility.

Qatar, which has long positioned itself as a neutral broker in regional disputes, strongly condemned Israel’s actions as an attempt to undermine peace talks. Despite the tensions, Doha has reaffirmed its commitment to mediating ceasefire negotiations, insisting that outside pressures will not deter its role. President Trump, in a call with Qatari leaders earlier this week, expressed regret over the incident and assured that such attacks would not recur on Qatari soil. With the Arab world watching closely, the outcome of Trump’s meeting with Sheikh Al Thani could signal Washington’s next move in addressing both Israel’s security concerns and Qatar’s mediation efforts.