WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that Qatar will be allowed to build an air force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho that will house F-15 fighter jets and pilots.
The announcement comes soon after President Donald Trump signed an executive order vowing to defend the Gulf Arab state against attacks, following Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas negotiators in the Qatari capital Doha.
“We’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho,” Hegseth said at the Pentagon, with Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at his side.
“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training” as well as “increase lethality, interoperability,” he said.
“It’s just another example of our partnership. And I hope you know, your excellency, that you can count on us.”
The Idaho base currently also hosts a fighter jet squadron from Singapore, according to its website.
Hegseth also thanked Qatar for its “substantial role” as a mediator in the talks that led to a truce and hostage-prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, and its assistance in securing the release of a US citizen from Afghanistan.
US Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said Qatar played a 'substantial role' in securing a Gaza ceasefire. He also announced an agreement on a joint air force training facility at the Mountain Air Force Home Base in Idaho pic.twitter.com/bm40ysjSdL
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 11, 2025
The Qatari minister hailed the “strong, enduring partnership” and “deep defence relationship” shared by the two countries.
The Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is Washington´s largest military facility in the Middle East.
Hegseth, who never said it was a base, later wrote on the platform: “Qatar will not have their own base in the United States — nor anything like a base. We control the existing base, like we do with all partners.”
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
Qatar’s Strategic Role
Qatar hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, Washington’s largest military facility in the Middle East, and was designated a “major non-NATO ally” by former president Joe Biden in 2022.
While serving as a key mediator in Middle East conflicts, Qatar has faced direct attacks in recent months. In June, Iran launched an air strike on Al Udeid Air Base, while in September, Israel struck a Doha neighbourhood hosting Hamas negotiators.
Following the latter attack, President Trump issued an executive order stating that any armed assault on Qatar’s territory or critical infrastructure would be treated as “a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”
“The United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of both nations,” the order said.
