Trump makes unplanned refuelling stop in Qatar, meets Emir ahead of Asia trip

US President Donald Trump made an unplanned stop in Qatar on his way to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, meeting with the country’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani aboard Air Force One.

The brief encounter, held during a refuelling stop at Al Udeid Air Base, drew regional and international attention as leaders discussed ongoing peace efforts in Gaza.

Trump and Qatari leaders focused on the recent Israel-Hamas hostage deal and broader efforts to maintain stability in Gaza, where Qatar has acted as a mediator in coordination with international partners.

Sheikh Tamim welcomed the US president warmly, saying that, because he was in Qatar, he wanted to greet him personally.

"As soon as I found out that he's coming to refuel, I said I wouldn’t allow him to take off without saying hello. So thank you very much, Mr. President, and it is always good to see you".

Trump praised the Emir, calling him "one of the great rulers of the world, not just the Middle East," and thanked both leaders for their role in regional peace, "What we've done is incredible. Peace to the Middle East. And they were a very big factor in it. You have a safe Middle East right now, and you're going to keep it that way for a long time. For a very long time".

The Emir noted it was the first time he had joined a visiting world leader aboard a plane for a refuelling stop, responding simply, "Never, first time".

Trump also highlighted the historic nature of the recent agreements declaring "You're going to have peace in the Middle East. This is real peace. It's never happened before. Three thousand years it's never happened. And great respect when he came to the airport, came onto the plane. That's never happened either. And he's a highly respected man".

After leaving Qatar and speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump reflected more broadly on the peace efforts saying, "We talked about peace. We have peace in the Middle East. That's what we have. Great peace in the Middle East. He thinks it's enduring. He's never seen anything like it. And very happy that I got involved. And he helped and we had a lot of help. We have 59 countries. We have a lot of countries that are signed on. It's just, this should be an enduring peace".

The discussions also highlighted the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the US and Qatar. Officials said the talks underscored Qatar’s continuing role as a mediator in the Middle East and the international cooperation involved in supporting the ceasefire and the recent hostage arrangements.

The stop in Doha comes as Trump embarks on his first Asian tour of the term, focused on trade, investment, and diplomacy. Observers noted that the unplanned meeting aboard Air Force One offered a rare glimpse of the close working relationship between the leaders and Qatar’s active engagement in regional diplomacy.

As Trump continues his tour, international attention will remain on Gaza and broader peace efforts in the region, with Qatar positioned as a key interlocutor in the delicate negotiations.