Historic agreement marks first permanent Middle Eastern military presence on American soil as Washington strengthens partnership with strategic Gulf ally
The United States signed an agreement Friday allowing Qatar to station fighter jets and pilots at a U.S. Air Force base in Idaho, marking an unprecedented expansion of military cooperation between Washington and the Gulf nation.
Defense chiefs from both countries finalized the deal Oct. 10 in Washington. Under the arrangement, Qatar will build its own facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base to house pilots and F-15QA fighters from the Qatar Emiri Air Force.
Officials did not disclose how many aircraft or personnel would be stationed at the Idaho base.
The agreement mirrors an existing arrangement with Singapore, which operates a squadron of F-15SG fighters at Mountain Home. Qatar operates 48 F-15QA fighters with options for 24 additional aircraft, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The F-15QA serves as the foundation for Boeing’s latest F-15EX model.
The timing appears linked to the Trump administration’s recent diplomatic success in the Middle East. Qatar played a central role in brokering the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which ended fighting in Gaza. The Gulf nation has long maintained relationships with both Hamas officials and American military forces.
Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base near its capital, the Pentagon’s largest installation in the Middle East. The facility serves as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command and the permanent home of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which covers operations across the Middle East and Indian Ocean.
But Qatar’s security came under scrutiny in September when Israeli forces carried out airstrikes that killed Hamas negotiators in the Qatari capital. A Qatari official also died in the attack, the BBC reported.
The Trump administration responded by announcing a mutual defense pact with Doha on Sept. 29. The framework commits the U.S. to defend Qatar’s territorial integrity and protect it from external aggression.
“In recognition of this history, and in light of the continuing threats to the state of Qatar posed by foreign aggression, it is the policy of the United States to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the state of Qatar against external attack,” the White House said.
The fighter basing agreement appears to reinforce that partnership. It elevates Qatar from partner to formal ally status through the mutual defense commitment.
“You can count on us,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Qatari Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the signing ceremony.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration accepted a donated Boeing 747-8 business jet from the Qatari royal family, announcing plans to convert it into a new presidential aircraft. The move drew criticism from ethics experts and raised questions from aviation specialists about certification requirements and conversion costs for presidential transport missions.
Key Takeaways
- Historic basing agreement: Qatar will station F-15QA fighters and pilots at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, mirroring a similar arrangement with Singapore.
- Defense pact connection: The Oct. 10 agreement reinforces a mutual defense framework signed Sept. 29 that commits Washington to defend Qatar’s territorial integrity against external threats.
- Strategic timing: The deal follows Qatar’s role brokering the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and September Israeli airstrikes in Doha that raised security concerns.
- Elevated partnership: Qatar operates 48 F-15QA fighters and hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the Pentagon’s largest Middle East installation and home to U.S. Central Command headquarters.
