UPDATE - US secretary of state meets Qatar’s emir during brief visit to Doha

UPDATES WITH DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a short visit to Qatar on Tuesday, a week after an Israeli airstrike on the capital, Doha.

A video aired by American media showed the top diplomat meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

No details were given about the content of his talks with Qatari officials during his brief trip.

Prior to his arrival from Israel, Rubio said that Washington and Doha are close to finalizing an enhanced defense cooperation agreement.

“We have a close partnership with the Qataris,” Rubio told reporters before departing Tel Aviv for Doha. “In fact, we have an enhanced defense cooperation agreement, which we've been working on, and we're on the verge of finalizing.”

Speaking on Qatar’s role in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Rubio said, “We're going to ask Qatar to continue to do what they've done.”

His visit came a day after an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, which condemned and expressed solidarity with Qatar following last week’s Israeli attack that killed five Hamas members as the group was discussing a US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

Qatar, along with Egypt and the US, has been mediating to end the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, where almost 65,000 people have been killed since October 2023.