Hegseth pronounces Qatar will construct air drive facility at U.S. base in Idaho

Washington — Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday introduced a finalized settlement that can permit the Qatari Emiri Air Pressure to construct a facility on the Mountain Residence Air Pressure Base in Idaho. 

The settlement, which Hegseth introduced alongside Qatari Minister of Protection Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on the Pentagon, will permit Qatari pilots to obtain coaching alongside U.S. troopers. There aren’t any overseas navy bases within the U.S., however some overseas militaries do preserve a presence for coaching. The Singaporean Air Pressure additionally has a presence on the Mountain Residence base. 

Hegseth mentioned he’s “proud that at the moment we’re signing a letter of acceptance to construct a Qatari Emiri Air Pressure Facility on the Mountain Residence Air Base in Idaho.”

“The placement will host a contingent of Qatari F-15’s and pilots to reinforce our mixed coaching, improve lethality, interoperability, it is simply one other instance of our partnership,” Hegseth mentioned. “And I hope , your excellency, you can rely on us.” 

Later Friday, Hegseth clarified that Qatar wouldn’t have its personal base within the U.S., writing on X: “The U.S. navy has a long-standing partnership w/ Qatar, together with at the moment’s introduced cooperation w/ F-15QA plane. Nevertheless, to be clear, Qatar is not going to have their very own base within the United States-nor something like a base. We management the present base, like we do with all companions.”

The transfer is one other demonstration of the Trump administration’s more and more shut relationship with Qatar. 

President Trump signed an govt order final month “assuring the safety of the state of Qatar,” following Israel’s choice to hold out a navy strike in Qatar’s capital metropolis of Doha, the place the overwhelming majority of Qataris stay. “The USA shall regard any armed assault on the territory, sovereignty, or crucial infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a risk to the peace and safety of the US,” the chief order reads. 

Qatar additionally performed a “substantial” function within the Israel-Hamas peace deal, as Hegseth mentioned Friday and as different prime administration officers have acknowledged. 

Mr. Trump’s choice to an settle for a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jetliner from Qatar to make use of as a presidential airplane additionally stirred up debate about moral and nationwide security-related issues. When completed, the airplane can be used as Air Pressure One.