Qatar to Build Air Force Facility at US Base in Idaho, Pentagon Confirms
WASHINGTON – The United States has approved a deal allowing Qatar to establish an air force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, where Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots will be stationed for training and joint operations, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday.
The announcement, made at the Pentagon alongside Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, marks a new chapter in US-Qatar military cooperation.
“We’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho,” Hegseth said.
“The site will host Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance combined training, increase lethality, and strengthen interoperability.”
The Idaho air base, which already hosts Singaporean fighter squadrons, will now serve as a joint training hub for US and Qatari forces.
Partnership Deepens Amid Global Tensions
The development follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order pledging to defend Qatar against external threats, particularly in the wake of Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha. While Trump’s move sparked political debate, the Pentagon emphasized the strategic value of Qatar’s involvement in regional security and US military operations.
Hegseth acknowledged Qatar’s “substantial role” in brokering a truce and prisoner-hostage swap between Israel and Hamas and noted its assistance in securing the release of a US citizen from Afghanistan.
The Qatari defence minister praised the “deep and enduring partnership” between the two nations, describing the move as a continuation of their strong defence ties. Qatar already hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.
Online Criticism and Clarifications
The agreement, although reportedly initiated during the Biden administration, has stirred online backlash, particularly among some far-right figures.
Conservative activist Laura Loomer, typically aligned with Trump, criticized the deal on social media, calling it a “military base for terror-financing Muslims.” The Pentagon swiftly responded to clarify the nature of the arrangement.
“Qatar will not have their own base in the United States — nor anything like a base,” Hegseth wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“We control the existing base, like we do with all partners.”
Officials stressed that the facility will remain under US control, and Qatar’s presence will be similar to other allied forces operating on US soil under mutual defence cooperation frameworks.
Strategic Significance
Defence analysts view the move as part of Washington’s broader effort to diversify and strengthen partnerships in the Gulf amid shifting dynamics in the Middle East. With tensions running high across the region, the US sees closer military integration with partners like Qatar as a means to project stability and deter threats.
The construction timeline and operational details of the Qatari facility in Idaho are expected to be finalized in the coming months.
