In a major development highlighting strengthening US-Qatar defense relations, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that Qatar has been granted approval to construct a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho. The facility will host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots, deepening military cooperation between the two nations.
The announcement followed President Donald Trump’s executive order pledging to defend Qatar against external threats after Israeli air strikes reportedly targeted Hamas leaders in Doha.
“We’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Base,” said Hegseth during a Pentagon briefing, joined by Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. “The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, as well as increase lethality and interoperability. It’s just another example of our partnership — and I hope you know, Your Excellency, that you can count on us.”
The Idaho air base already accommodates a Singaporean fighter squadron, and the inclusion of Qatar is seen as another step toward building stronger multinational defense collaboration.
Secretary Hegseth also praised Qatar’s vital diplomatic role in mediating the recent truce and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, and for assisting in securing the release of a US citizen from Afghanistan.
In response, Sheikh Saoud emphasized the “deep, enduring defense relationship” shared by the two countries, noting that cooperation like this “builds bridges of trust and long-term partnership.”
Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, already home to Washington’s largest military installation in the Middle East, has long been central to US operations in the region. However, this new development in Idaho has stirred debate online. Some critics, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, expressed strong opposition to allowing Qatar to build a facility on US soil.
Responding to the criticism, Hegseth clarified that Qatar would not “have their own base” in the United States. “We control the existing base, like we do with all partners,” he stated firmly.
As geopolitical alliances continue to evolve, this partnership serves as a reminder that strategic cooperation often transcends politics — aiming instead for global stability and mutual strength.
