In a series of tweets, Mr. Trump said his call for an end to the financing of radical groups had prompted Saudi Arabia and four other countries to act this week against Qatar, a tiny, energy-rich emirate
that is arguably America’s most important military outpost in the Middle East.
By MARK LANDLERJUNE 6, 2017
WASHINGTON — President Trump thrust himself into a bitter Persian Gulf dispute on Tuesday, taking credit for Saudi Arabia’s move to isolate its smaller neighbor, Qatar,
and rattling his national security staff by upending a critical American strategic relationship.
“Leaders pointed to Qatar — look!”
Qatar has long been accused of funneling money to the Muslim Brotherhood — which has officially forsworn violence
but is still accused of terrorism by some countries — as well as to radical groups in Syria, Libya and other Arab nations.
Mr. Mattis added, “I am positive there will be no implications coming out of this dramatic situation at all.”
In addition to hosting the air command center, Qatar is the home of the forward headquarters
of the United States Central Command and an American intelligence hub in the Middle East.
There was little immediate threat to American military facilities in Qatar, administration officials
and outside analysts said, not least because Qatar views America’s military presence as an insurance policy against the aggressive moves of its neighbors.