Is Qatar in NATO Now? Qatar (and Türkiye) Really Are America's Best Friends in The Middle East

Doesn't this deal raise a lot of questions about how money and the Middle East really works?

At the Qatari embassy’s Fourth of July party in 2023

A few years ago I wrote a piece arguing that Qatar was, in fact, America’s real best friend in the region. And recent events more or less confirm that that was a correct take.

Defending Our Real Greatest Ally: The Scapegoating and Shakedown of Qatar...

That was under Biden and what was true under Biden is even more true under President Trump, who has taken a shine to the gas rich oil kingdom. (After Russia and Iran — both no go zones for the United States — Qatar has the most gas on the planet.)

Whereas the Israelis targeted Hunter and Ashley Biden, the world’s autocrats have elected to put Trump and his family on the payroll. This is a decidedly different approach and I think it’s an open question if this is a force for stability—or chaos.

What really happened is as follows:

It’s not a coincidence that the two members of the Trump inner circle that have received the most investment from Qatar -- Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff -- and are the closest to Netanyahu, are at the negotiating table. They are here to safeguard their investment.

And of course, there’s been a lot of narrative spinning that Jared Kushner, whose family shook down the Qataris over a 666 Fifth Avenue bailout, was somehow an architect of Middle East peace. What utter nonsense.

Witkoff’s son Alex was looking for cash from Qatar, according to The New York Times earlier this month. The possibility that that cash might stop coming was a real problem for them.

You somewhat wonder if Qatar, in paying off the Witkoffs, was quite correct about what was going on. It’s better to pay people than to fight them and there are, after all, only 200,000 or so Qataris.

What’s particularly interesting is how the British national security advisor was thanked by Witkoff. Prime Minister Erodgan of Türkiye was also thanked by President Trump.

Erdogan has one of the most powerful armies in the world. He is much more powerful than he lets known.

He won many conflicts but he does not want any credit. He wants to be left alone.

He’s a tough cookie, but he’s my friend and always there when I need him. When NATO has issues with him, they call me.

I speak to Erdogan, and he never fails. He’s amazing. Thank you for the friendship.

(My Rear Admiral grandfather once told me that the only real friends he had in NATO were the Turks and that has been my experience too. Turks have our back.)

Rather incredibly Erdogan told Sisi and Trump that he would not attend the Cairo peace summit if Netanyahu was invited — and Netanyahu wasn’t invited.

Türkiye has a military base in Qatar, which it has been expanding. I suspect it won't be long before Turkish drones fly in American airspace if recent reports are to be believed.

While discussing F-35 stealth fighters for Turkey, the US has requested that Baykar, Turkey’s leading drone manufacturer, establish a production facility in the country.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that U.S. officials have requested that Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar establish a production facility in the U.S.

“Just the other day, I was at a meeting and there were requests and events there regarding the technology produced by Baykar, which could be a production area within the U.S., and the U.S. could benefit from this advanced technology in Türkiye,” Fidan told reporters at Turkish House in New York.

Of course the second Netanyahu tried to kill Hamas members in Qatar and thereby threatened Witkoff and Kushner family money — which is really Trump money — he was done.

So you’re aware about what really caused the Gaza War to end. Netanyahu tried murdering Hamas in Qatar. That’s what it was — an attempted murder.

Qatari officials said if this behavior is allowed in our country, we are going to withdraw investments in the United States, including the money we have put behind your allies and your family.

President Trump said, “Woah, is there anything we can do to make this cool?” The Qataris said, “Yeah, we have a security guarantee. Let’s invoke it against Netanyahu.”

Trump made Netanyahu apologize to the Qataris and the Qataris rewarded America by announcing new investments in America, including an air base in Idaho.

Bibi was left out in the cold — where he belongs.