The United States has officially approved plans for Qatar to establish an Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, where Qatari F-15QA fighter jets and pilots will train alongside U.S. forces. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the agreement during a meeting at the Pentagon with Qatar’s Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, calling it a major step in strengthening military cooperation and interoperability between the two nations.
According to Hegseth, the facility will host a group of Qatari aircraft and pilots, allowing joint exercises and advanced training operations. He emphasized that the partnership reflects Washington’s long-standing defense relationship with Doha, noting, “You can count on us.”
The announcement comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order guaranteeing U.S. security support for Qatar following Israeli airstrikes on Doha targeting Hamas figures. However, U.S. officials stressed that this project had been in development for several years, originating during the previous administration.
A U.S. defense official described the move as “routine,” pointing out that similar programs exist with other partner nations, such as Germany and Singapore, where allied pilots train on U.S. soil through foreign military sales agreements. Hegseth later clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the facility will not be a Qatari-owned base, but a joint training operation with the U.S.
Despite the Pentagon’s clarification, some political figures, including conservative commentator Laura Loomer, sharply criticized the decision, labeling it a “betrayal” and “outrageous.”
Qatar has been a key U.S. ally in regional security efforts, hosting Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East. Hegseth praised Qatar’s mediation role in peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas, as well as its cooperation during recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The Idaho project has been progressing since at least 2022, when an environmental assessment was released detailing plans for the “beddown” of 12 F-15QA aircraft, 300 combined U.S. and Qatari personnel, and the construction of necessary infrastructure. The facilities will include areas for training, maintenance, and operations, with U.S. contractors and local labor handling construction.
According to official documents, operations were expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2024, with a 10-year timeline that could be extended if both parties agree. Qatari Minister al-Thani described the agreement as “a major milestone,” saying it will enhance joint readiness, interoperability, and shared defense goals between Qatar and the United States.
