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U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, May 15, 2025.
What We’re Watching: Trump signs security guarantee with Qatar, Papua New Guinea and Australia make defense deal, and Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla
Trump signs security guarantee with Qatar
Yesterday, it was made public that Donald Trump signed a NATO-style security pledge with Qatar on Monday, the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House. The order upgrades the US’s security obligation to Qatar in the event of a future attack, and is a “compensation” for Israel’s strike last month on Hamas leaders in Doha. While the executive order’s legal weight is questionable, the move is as much about countering Saudi Arabia’s new defense pact with Pakistan as it is about the Israeli strike, underscoring pressure on the US to prove it remains a reliable security guarantor for its Gulf state allies.
Papua New Guinea and Australia to seal defense pact
The cabinet of Papua New Guinea has approved a defense pact with Australia. The move, expected to be approved by both countries’ lawmakers, comes as China broadens its push for influence in the South Pacific. The Solomon Islands, located just east of Papua New Guinea, have been a major focus of Chinese investment and security activity in recent years. (For more see our recent explainer here.) Under the PNG-Australia agreement, the two countries are obligated to come to each other’s defense, but can also maintain alliances with third-parties.
Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla
Israeli forces have intercepted 39 boats that were sailing towards the Gaza Strip as part of a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid. Celebrity activist Greta Thunberg was among those arrested, along with several European politicians. Israeli officials indicated one of the boats may still be on its way to Gaza, and would also be stopped if it approaches the war zone.
Vehicles of Finnish police are seen parked at the re-opened Vaalimaa border checkpoint between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland, on Dec. 14, 2023.
Finland, USA to sign defense cooperation agreement
Early next week, the United States will sign a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Finland, which shares an 830-mile (1,340 km) border with Russia.
But Finland already joined NATO earlier this year, ditching its decades of non-alignment in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So what gives?
The problem is that while NATO is big and powerful, it’s also consensus-driven and slow. Moving its resources around takes time – a luxury that Finland might not have in the event of Russian aggression.
The new deal – which still requires ratification by lawmakers in both countries – would enable the US to move military equipment and troops to Finland much more quickly, something that would be “vital in a crisis," according to Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.
The US already has a similar agreement in place with Finland’s neighbor Sweden – whose own NATO accession keeps stumbling over Turkish objections – and more than half a dozen other NATO members concerned about the risk of Russian revanchism.
All of which confirms the Russian president as, among other things, Salesman of the Year for NATO membership and bilateral US security pacts. Well done, Vladimir!