Qatar to Build Air Force Facility at U.S. Base in Idaho
Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth announced that Qatar will start constructing an air force facility at a U.S. air base, following an agreement with the United States.
This deal, revealed by Hegseth recently, includes provisions for Qatari pilots to train alongside U.S. soldiers, as reported. The new facility will be located at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho and is set to accommodate a team of Qatari F-15 fighters and their pilots.
Interestingly, while the U.S. doesn’t maintain any foreign military bases, some nations do have training presences on U.S. soil.
The announcement took place at the Pentagon, where Hegseth joined Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. This partnership will facilitate training opportunities for Qatari pilots alongside their American counterparts. Notably, the Singapore Air Force is also stationed at Mountain Home Air Base.
“I am proud to sign the Letter of Acceptance for the Qatar Emiri Air Force Facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base,” Hegseth stated.
In a post on X, Hegseth clarified that Qatar does not possess any bases in the U.S. and that existing bases will be managed by the United States.
“The U.S. military has a long-standing partnership with Qatar, particularly with the F-15QA aircraft announced today,” he added. “Just to clarify, Qatar doesn’t have its own bases in the United States. We are responsible for managing existing bases, which is standard for all our partners.”
Hegseth’s announcement comes on the heels of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in September, relating to “Ensuring the Security of the State of Qatar.”
This executive order indicates that any armed attack against Qatar’s territory or critical infrastructure will be viewed as a threat to U.S. security.
Should such an attack occur, the U.S. is prepared to take all necessary actions—diplomatic, economic, and military—to safeguard both U.S. and Qatari interests.
Additionally, President Trump had Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologize to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani following an airstrike in Doha that targeted Hamas.
