In an unexpected diplomatic move, the transition team of President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly urged Qatar to bring Hamas leaders back to Doha.
This comes on the heels of reports that Qatar had expelled Hamas following the Biden administration's assertion that the terrorist group's presence was "no longer acceptable." The incoming administration appears to be eager to reignite ceasefire discussions in Gaza.
According to The Hill, the Biden administration had previously pursued a policy towards Qatar that treated the emirate as a reliable ally, despite its close ties to Hamas, its promotion of anti-Israel sentiment, and its involvement in bribery scandals with high-ranking U.S. and European officials. The Trump administration should make it clear that Qatar will only remain a U.S. ally if it behaves as one.
The Biden administration has taken several measures to elevate Qatar's status as a key American ally. In January 2022, President Biden designated Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally, granting Doha "military and economic privileges" that only a handful of other countries enjoy. This status was further reinforced when Qatar was admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, allowing Qatari citizens to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.
Despite Qatar's small citizen population of 330,000, it is questionable whether travel privileges should be extended to residents of a country that has harbored Hamas for over a decade.
The Biden administration also negotiated an agreement with Qatar to extend the U.S. military presence at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military base in the Middle East, for another decade. Until recently, the Biden White House collaborated with Qatari mediators to broker a Gaza hostage deal.
Despite Qatar's consistent failure to utilize its political and financial influence over Hamas, the Biden administration has continued to heap praise on Dohas diplomatic service.
It is now time for a reset, to prevent Qatar from exploiting U.S. trust.
Firstly, Doha must sever ties with Hamas definitively. If a hostage deal is not secured before inauguration day, the Trump administration should pressure Qatar to close Hamass Doha office and extradite any remaining senior Hamas leaders in the emirate.
The Trump administration should also contemplate revoking Qatars Major Non-NATO ally status if Doha fails to exert sufficient pressure on Hamas. Both the House and the Senate are currently considering bills to this effect.
Al Udeid is another potential source of leverage. The Trump administration should develop contingency plans, including alternatives to Al-Udeid, potentially looking towards Saudi Arabia. As suggested by some experts, "Washington should replicate elsewhere in the region vital military capabilities," to prevent Qatar from using Al Udeid as a bargaining chip.
The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act includes a section requiring the Secretary of Defense to assess "the operational value of the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, taking into consideration the presence of Hamas and other United States-designated terrorist organizations in Qatar."
Next, the Trump administration should compel U.S.-based Al Jazeera-plus to register as a foreign agent of Qatar. Al Jazeera-plus is a subsidiary of the state-controlled Qatari network. The U.S. Department of Justice ordered the network to register as a foreign agent in 2020, but it has yet to comply.
Last year, House lawmakers urged congressional leadership to suspend Al Jazeera Media Networks Capitol Hill press credentials "until the State of Qatar and its propaganda arm agree to adhere to the Foreign Agents Registration Act and other U.S. laws." The new Congress should enforce this threat.
The Trump administration should also evaluate whether Al Jazeera is a suitable target for sanctions due to its record of propaganda, incitement to violence, and service to Hamas. Iranian and Russian state networks are sanctioned in the U.S. for broadcasting propaganda and serving their parent governments. Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV and Hezbollah-run Al-Manar are also designated for supporting terrorist recruitment and fundraising efforts. The precedent exists for targeting foreign governments malign propaganda organs, and Al Jazeera should not get a free pass.
The third priority is to review Qatars efforts against terror finance. Washington and Doha signed a counter-terror finance agreement in 2017, but the presence of Hamas financiers in Qatar as late as 2023 suggests that Doha has not fulfilled its commitments. Congress should mandate the U.S. Government Accountability Office to assess the implementation and enforcement of the 2017 agreement.
Lastly, the Trump administration must hold Qatar accountable for corruption. U.S. authorities should investigate Qatars role in the corruption case that brought down Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), and consider using the Anti-Bribery Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Global Magnitsky Act to investigate and target Qatari entities and individuals.
A reckoning is also needed at the United Nations. Qatar is slated to host the 11th Session of Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption in December 2025. Doha reportedly requested to host the biennial summit "in light of its keenness to permanently contribute to supporting international efforts to prevent corruption."
Qatar portrays itself as an anti-corruption champion and the United Nations is cooperating. The Trump administration should bear this in mind when setting its priorities at Turtle Bay.
When dealing with Qatar, Trump should not follow in Biden's footsteps. If Doha refuses to behave like an ally, it should not retain the privileges it has secured under the current administration.
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