Idaho: The United States and Qatar have signed a landmark letter of agreement to construct a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, marking a new phase in bilateral defence cooperation.
The announcement was made by US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, following his meeting with Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Pentagon.
Hegseth commended Qatar’s pivotal role in mediating Gaza ceasefire talks, with the first phase of the Israel-Hamas peace deal going into effect the same day. Hegseth stated that, “No one other than President Donald Trump could have achieved the peace that we believe will be a lasting peace in Gaza, and Qatar played a substantial role from the beginning.”
Important clarification:
The U.S. military has a long-standing partnership w/ Qatar, including today’s announced cooperation w/ F-15QA aircraft. However, to be clear, Qatar will not have their own base in the United States—nor anything like a base. We control the existing base,…
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 10, 2025
Sheikh Saoud praised the collaboration between Washington and Doha, calling the ceasefire agreement proof of what can be achieved when the US works with partners in the region, including Egypt and Turkiye, with courage and trust.
Facility at Mountain Home Air Force base
Hegseth confirmed that the Idaho base will host a contingent of Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots, aimed at enhancing joint training, interoperability, and combat readiness between the two nations.
Ali al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché to the US, later clarified that the site will not be a Qatari airbase but rather a dedicated facility within an existing US airbase.
Ali al-Ansari stated that, “Qatar has made an initial 10-year commitment to construct and maintain the facility to support advanced training and shared defence interests.”
The arrangement mirrors similar partnerships between the US and other allies, including European countries, Singapore, Turkiye, and NATO members.
Strategic alliance
Qatar hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US air installation in the Middle East and was designated a major non-NATO ally by former President Joe Biden in 2022.
Despite its mediator role in Gaza, Qatar has been targeted in recent attacks by foreign powers. In June, Iran launched an airstrike on Al Udeid, damaging a communications dome, while in September, an Israeli strike on a Qatari neighbourhood killed members of a Hamas delegation and Qatar’s internal security forces.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani condemned the Israeli strike as state terrorism, a sentiment echoed by President Trump, who later issued an executive order affirming US commitment to Qatar’s defence.
The order stated that Washington shall regard any armed attack on the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States, pledging to respond with all lawful and appropriate measures.
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