Shephard Media:
The United States approved a deal to sell Qatar $300 million in guided missiles on 9 April, on the eve of President Donald Trump’s White House meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Gulf emirate is a long-standing American military ally and host to the largest US air base in the Middle East, but ties have been clouded by a crisis with its Arab neighbors.
Led by US allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Qatar’s regional rivals launched a diplomatic and trade blockade last year, and Trump initially appeared to take Riyadh’s side.
Saudi and Emirati officials have accused Thani’s government of cozying up to Iran and funding Islamist extremist groups. Qatar denies this and Washington wants to mediate a truce. The emir met US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and is due to meet Trump on 10 April.
