Rubio says US, Qatar on verge of finalizing defense cooperation agreement
Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said he was on the verge of concluding a defense cooperation agreement because he positions the US and Qatar’s Middle East ally “the only country of the world” to mediate between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Tuesday.
The secretary’s comments came when he left Jerusalem, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting took place against Israel’s air strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar last week, as well as against the intense bombardment of the Gaza City.
Rubio, who is currently going to Qatar for a quick visit, accepted Doha’s anger over Israeli air strikes and told Fox News during a special interview in Jerusalem: “We understand that they are not satisfied with what happened.”
Speaking to journalists, Rubio re -confirmed the US loyalty to Qatar as an ally and said that Doha could play a “key role” in providing the terrorist group Hamas “disarmament” as a threat.
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“We think that Qatar can play a very important role in this regard. So, we’re going there. We have a close partnership with Qataris,” said Rubio, “We actually have an advanced defense cooperation agreement that we’re working on and on the verge of concluding.”
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Rubio said that any country in the world could mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Rubio, “They can do this. Now, I don’t know what they can do after what happened, but I think they can. If they can. There is no other country in the world to play this role. And we hope.” He said.
The secretary warned that the diplomacy window narrowed with Hamas and said, “We don’t have months anymore… Probably our days, maybe a few weeks.”
“So, it’s an important moment – a important moment, Rub Rubio said. “And again, our preference, our number one choice, this is Hamas ‘demilitarize. We will no longer create this threat. We will disintegrate. We will release each hostage’ is the end of a summit.”
