DUBAI — President Trump has signed an executive order vowing to use all measures, including U.S. military action, to defend the energy-rich nation of Qatar — though it remains unclear just what weight the pledge will carry.
The text of the order, available Wednesday on the White House’s website but dated Monday, appears to be another measure by Trump to assure the Qataris following Israel’s surprise attack on the country targeting Hamas leaders as they weighed accepting a ceasefire with Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip.
The order cites the two countries’ “close cooperation” and “shared interest,” vowing to “guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the state of Qatar against external attack.”
“The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty or critical infrastructure of the state of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States,” the order says.
“In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the state of Qatar and to restore peace and stability.”
The order apparently came during a visit to Washington on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump organized a call by Netanyahu to Qatar during the visit in which Netanyahu “expressed his deep regret” over the strike that killed six people, including a member of the Qatari security forces, the White House said.
Qatari officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s order. However, the Qatari-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera prominently reported about it Wednesday under the headline: “New Trump executive order guarantees Qatar security after Israeli attack.”
The true scope of the pledge remains in question. Typically, legally binding agreements, or treaties, need to receive the approval of the U.S. Senate. However, presidents have entered international agreements without the Senate’s approval, as President Obama did with Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
And ultimately, any decision to take military action rests with the president. That uncertainty has clouded previous U.S. defense agreements in Trump’s second term, such as NATO’s Article 5 guarantees.
Qatar, a peninsular nation that sticks out into the Persian Gulf, became fantastically wealthy through its natural gas reserves. It has been a key U.S. military partner, allowing America’s Central Command to have its forward operating base at its vast Al Udeid Air Base. President Biden named Qatar a major non-NATO ally in 2022, in part due to its help during America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In the aftermath of the Israeli attack, Saudi Arabia entered a mutual defense agreement with Pakistan, bringing the kingdom under Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella. It’s unclear whether other Gulf Arab countries, worried about Israel as well as Iran as it faces reimposed United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program, may seek similar arrangements as well with the region’s longtime security guarantor.
“The Gulf’s centrality in the Middle East and its significance to the United States warrants specific U.S. guarantees beyond President Donald J. Trump’s assurances of nonrepetition and dinner meetings,” wrote Bader al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University who analyzes Gulf Arab affairs.
According to the source, Anton found the offer to feature on this particular reality TV show “too good an offer to turn down”, especially since it involved “all expenses paid fun in the sun, with a bit of drama thrown in to boot.”
Though the TV personality, 31, will now be gearing up for his next appearance on-screen, he’s recently fallen out of favour with the public.
Anton became under-fire after making a post to Instagram where his followers accused him of using Ricky Hatton‘s death to boost his Instagram views.
Read Celeb Ex On The Beach
In a post mentioning the passing of the late boxer, Anton appeared to plug his services as a personal trainer and online coach.
Many commenters found this to be disrespectful and distasteful.
One commenter even said Anton needs to have a “word with himself” and reflect on his actions.
Featuring on Celeb Ex On The Beach will be another way for Anton to promote his company: another reason cited by the source for Anton’s decision to go on the programme.
“While Anton is focused on his personal training company, being on TV now and then always helps boost the business and keep those clients coming in.”
Anton featured on series five of Love Island back in 2019 before going all-in on his love for fitness.
Love Island’s Anton Danyluk reveals staggering 19lbs weight loss in just six weeks
Following his exit from the show, be became a bodybuilder and even fronted a BBC documentary called Anton Danyluk on Body Shame in 2023.
It is not yet confirmed exactly when Celeb Ex On The Beach’s fourth series is going to air, but a show source revealed “it’s in the very early stages but should film towards the end of the year.”
The show’s cast will consist of well-known faces from other reality shows including Love Island and MAFS, as well as Netflix stars.
6
Anton got close to Georgia Harrison on Love Island: All StarsCredit: Rex
6
He vowed it would be the last time he featured on a reality TV programmeCredit: MTV
Davina McCall has revealed she has secretly got engaged to hair stylist partner Michael DouglasCredit: Getty
6
He has been a rock during her recovery from a life-saving brain op, and a friend said: “Everyone is so thrilled for them.”
The couple, together seven years, then flew to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, US, three weeks ago to celebrate.
They have revealed the happy news only to their innermost circle.
Davina is recovering from an op to remove a benign brain cyst last November and a friend said: “To say it has been a rollercoaster year for her is an understatement.
“Whilst surgery was, of course, traumatic, she made peace with a lot in the days and weeks leading up to it.
“Then, having survived, she had a new lease of life — as so many do who have been in similar situations.
“Michael was her absolute rock throughout her recovery.
“If you see them together, genuinely they are like lovesick teenagers.
“Their chemistry is insane.
“Basically Davina thought ‘f*** it, life is short’, and decided it was time to, as the kids say, lock in the love of her life.”
Davina McCall hosts new reality show Stranded on Honeymoon Island
The pair met on Big Brother in the early 2000s when he styled her hair.
They stayed friends for years but only began dating after she finalised her divorce from Matthew Robertson in early 2018.
It is not known when Davina and Michael will but is unlikely to be until after May next year when Davina is expected to be fully recovered from her brain op.
The pal added: “She has a ring but is only wearing it in private.
“It is wonderful news and everyone who knows them is just so thrilled.
“They really do make the most gorgeous couple.”
Yesterday mum-of-three Davina detailed her post-op journey to Radio 2’s Scott Mills, and, without mentioning her engagement, said she had never been happier.
She said: “After my operation they said it will take a year to 18 months to get as good as you’re going to get.
“I keep thinking that next May I’m going to go out for dinner with Michael and say, ‘I hope this version of me is all right as this is what you’re going to get’.
“I don’t know if you think I see any difference but I am so happy.
“It is mad. I guess I am just super-grateful to be here, alive.
“I can’t believe the sliding doors that happened to get me here are magical.
“It’s been a massive journey and some has been incredibly hard.”
6
Davina has been recovering from brain surgery, and praised Michael for his incredible supportCredit: Instagram
Michael has styled her locks for years and created a glam beehive hairdo for her appearance at Wednesday night’s NTAs at the O2 in London.
He runs his own award-winning brand, MD London and co-hosts popular podcast Making The Cut.
Davina, who once hosted dating show Streetmate, last month insisted they’d never tie the knot.
She said: “We go on honeymoons all the time but without getting married.
“We’re in the honeymoon period even after all these years.
“I couldn’t be more happy. And sometimes there’s an idea of, why change anything?’”
But in another recent interview she praised Michael for his support.
She said: “I want to just big up Michael for a minute, because you and I have been through something mega, and I want to say out loud, just thank you.
“It’s been really difficult for both of us, and I love you with all of my heart.
“You are everything to me, you’re my soulmate.
“We are more than married!”
6
Davina’s marriage to first husband Andrew Leggett lasted for only two yearsCredit: TillenDove
6
Davina’s marriage to second husband Matthew Robertson lasted for 17 yearsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Davina was married to TV adventurer Matthew Robertson for 17 years, and the couple have children Holly, Chester, and Tilly.
Davina wed then-shop manager Andrew Leggett in 1997.
But they fell out after a few months and the marriage ended in 1999.
After realising their feelings for one another, Davina and Michael went public with their relationship in 2018, and by January 2023 had moved in together.
Last autumn doctors discovered a 14mm tumour after Davina had a scan as part of a deal with One Welbeck, a private healthcare facility for whom she had given a talk on the menopause for.
The presenter explained: “In my head, I was literally the healthiest person in the world.
“I had this head-to-toe scan.
“And they came back and they went, ‘Okay, we’ve got your results. Um… we’d like to talk to you’.
“They said, ‘You’ve got a benign cyst in your brain.’
“The doctor explained it’s called a colloid cyst.
“And a colloid cyst is a three in a million thing, and it can also cause… very, very rarely, but it can also cause sudden death.”
Speaking to podcaster Steven Bartlett, Davina said she faced the diagnosis head on with Michael, with the pair discussing what might happen if something went wrong during the surgery.
She added: “I said, ‘Look, I’ve got to plan for it if it doesn’t go according to plan.’
“When I’d spoken to the doctors, they talked about things like stroke, epilepsy, these being risks.
“Nicking an artery or a blood vessel in the brain and having a bleed… so there were a lot of things that could be a risk.
“And obviously, because of my age, you know, I’m 57. That was another thing that mattered to me. I was thinking, you know.
“Would you rather have brain surgery now, or if it grew in eight years’ time, would you want to have it in your mid-to-late 60s?
“Would it not be better to get it done now while you’re fit and healthy in every other way?”
After speaking to her children and closest family, Davina said she immediately set about sorting her affairs — including updating her will.
Following the surgery, Michael updated Davina’s followers and said she was recovering well.
Seeing them in the flesh is like witnessing teenagers in the first flush of intoxicating, all-consuming, hormonal-heavy love. Minus the angst.
News of their engagement is the bit of cheer we all needed at a time when so much else in the world is unrelentingly grim.
Davina is one of the kindest, most genuine celebrities in Britain.
Michael is a bundle of high energy fun.
He is as deeply in love with his fiancée as he is rightly proud of her.
Whilst their public lives are deeply entwined thanks to a successful podcast and his artful rendering of her locks, they are also deeply successful, and independent, in their own right.
A few years ago I bumped into Michael at London’s Soho House.
He came over to say hi; he drinks (moderately, not in a lush way) whereas six-packed, uber-fit Davina is famously teetotal.
He was lovely, unguarded and deeply complimentary of his then-girlfriend.
Michael invariably accompanies her on set and, granted, they’re not snogging unprofessionally between takes, but their chemistry is palpable.
Their decision to marry, having insisted they would never want to rock the boat, will give dog-obsessed spinsters like me hope.
Evidently Davina’s recent trauma, which she so powerfully documented to help others experiencing similar, has given her fresh perspective. Life is short; celebrate those you love.
For a woman so synonymous with menopause awareness, how lovely another M word “marriage” is now what we are all talking about.
