The US has finalized an agreement allowing Qatar to build an air force facility in Idaho, as announced by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to Hegseth, the facility will serve as a training center for pilots from Qatar on F-15 fighter jets and will be located at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho.
It's just another example of our partnership, Hegseth stated during his meeting with Qatari Defence Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon.
Hegseth highlighted Qatar's substantial role in diplomatic efforts recently undertaken by the United States to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
As a key mediator along with Egypt and Turkey, Qatar has been involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
During the announcement, Hegseth expressed pride in signing a letter of acceptance to establish the facility, emphasizing that it would enhance the combat readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Qatari forces. He refrained from disclosing the number of F-15s that would be stationed at the Idaho facility or its operational timeline.
The move follows a recent executive order by President Trump pledging U.S. military defense guarantees for Qatar, echoing aspects of NATO's defense commitments.
This agreement builds on Qatar's existing military relationship with the U.S., which includes hosting the al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East.
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