Washington — Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday introduced a finalized settlement that can permit the Qatari Emiri Air Power to construct a facility on the Mountain House Air Power Base in Idaho.
The settlement, which Hegseth introduced alongside Qatari Minister of Protection Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on the Pentagon, will permit Qatari pilots to obtain coaching alongside U.S. troopers. There aren’t any overseas navy bases within the U.S., however some overseas militaries do preserve a presence for coaching. The Singaporean Air Power additionally has a presence on the Mountain House base.
Hegseth mentioned he’s “proud that today we’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force Facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho.”
“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15’s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability, it’s just another example of our partnership,” Hegseth mentioned. “And I hope you know, your excellency, that you can count on us.”
U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Protection Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 10, 2025.
Ken Cedeno / REUTERS
The transfer is one other demonstration of the Trump administration’s more and more shut relationship with Qatar.
President Trump signed an govt order final month “assuring the security of the state of Qatar,” following Israel’s determination to hold out a navy strike in Qatar’s capital metropolis of Doha, the place the overwhelming majority of Qataris stay. “The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States,” the manager order reads.
Qatar additionally performed a “substantial” function within the Israel-Hamas peace deal, as Hegseth mentioned Friday and as different prime administration officers have acknowledged.
Mr. Trump’s determination to an settle for a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jetliner from Qatar to make use of as a presidential airplane additionally stirred up debate about moral and nationwide security-related considerations. When completed, the airplane will likely be used as Air Power One.
