The nation's recent moves include a luxury gift to President Trump, billions of dollars to American universities and media and massive investments in energy and technology.

The tiny Gulf state has showered money on the U.S.’s military and universities, giving it outsize geopolitical clout.

Doha's long history of buying influence in the U.S. is resurfacing amidst reports that Trump will accept a gifted luxury Boeing jet by the Qatari government.

Economy Minister Nir Barkat called Qatar a terror-supporting state backing Hamas and urged its removal as a mediator.

The U.S. has grown closer to Qatar in recent years, so much so that the tiny nation has been at the forefront of high-stakes peace negotiations between global powers.

Qatar’s potential plan to provide a $US400m ($625m) jumbo jet to the US to use as Air Force One underscores how the tiny Gulf state has managed to diplomatically punch above its weight for years: It has a lot of money,