Qatar seeks renewed US defence pact

Qatar and the US are on the verge of finalizing an enhanced defence cooperation agreement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today. “We have a close partnership with the Qataris. In fact, we have an enhanced defence cooperation agreement, which we’ve been working on, we’re on the verge of finalising,” Mr Rubio said while departing Tel Aviv for Doha. His meeting came a week after Israel’s attack on Hamas political leaders in Doha, which drew widespread condemnation. Mr Rubio met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim and discussed defence cooperation, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said.