The US has finalized an agreement that will allow Qatar to build an air force facility in Idaho, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced.
He said the facility - where pilots from the Gulf state would be trained to fly F-15 fighter jets - would be established at the Mountain Home Airbase in the north-western US state.
It's just another example of our partnership, Hegseth said during a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, at the Pentagon on Friday.
Hegseth also praised Qatar for playing a substantial role in efforts led by President Donald Trump to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal.
Qatar - along with Egypt and Turkey - has been an active mediator during months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
On Friday, Hegseth expressed pride in signing a letter of acceptance to build the Qatari Emiri Air Force Facility at Mountain Home Airbase. He noted that the location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots, enhancing their combined training and interoperability.
The Pentagon chief did not specify the number of Qatari F-15s planned for the Idaho facility or its operational timeline.
Last month, President Trump signed an executive order pledging all measures, including military action, to defend Qatar, marking a significant security pact akin to a NATO alliance.
Qatar hosts Washington's largest military base in the Middle East, al-Udeid, which commands all air operations in the region.
