Qatar has been granted approval to establish an air force training facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, where F-15 fighter jets and pilots will be based. This move occurs shortly after President Trump issued an executive order reinforcing U.S. support for Qatar amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, especially following Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha.
At the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced, alongside Qatar’s Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, that a formal acceptance letter has been signed for the construction of this Qatar Emiri Air Force facility. The base will host Qatari F-15 aircraft and pilots, aiming to strengthen joint training efforts, improve interoperability, and boost military readiness.
Hegseth emphasized that this development exemplifies the robust partnership between the U.S. and Qatar, assuring that the U.S. can be counted on for support. Currently, the Idaho base also accommodates a Singaporean fighter squadron.
Hegseth expressed gratitude to Qatar for its significant mediating role in achieving a truce and facilitating a prisoner and hostage swap between Israel and Hamas, as well as assisting in the release of an American citizen from Afghanistan. The Qatari defense minister highlighted the enduring, strong relationship and their deepening defense cooperation.
The U.S. maintains its largest military presence in the Middle East at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. President Trump’s close ties with Qatari leadership have attracted attention, particularly after Qatar gifted the U.S. a Boeing 747 for use as Air Force One. Although plans for the Idaho facility appear to have been in motion since the previous administration under Joe Biden, the announcement sparked some criticism on social media. Notably, far-right activist Laura Loomer questioned the decision, suggesting it was inappropriate for a Muslim-majority country involved in funding terrorism to host a U.S. military base on American soil. Hegseth clarified later that Qatar will not have a standalone base but will operate within an existing U.S. facility, asserting control over the site and emphasizing the partnership’s strategic importance.
