Qatar to build Air Force training facility at US base in Idaho

In a landmark announcement on October 10, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed an agreement to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

The project will host Qatari F-15QA fighter jets and pilots, who will train alongside American airmen to enhance joint readiness and operational coordination. The initiative is part of Washington and Doha’s long-term defense cooperation framework, strengthening Qatar’s air combat capabilities while reinforcing U.S. influence in the Gulf region.

Pentagon officials clarified that the site will not constitute a foreign base on U.S. soil. The facility will remain under U.S. command, integrated fully within the Mountain Home base structure. Qatar will fund construction, but all operations and management will stay under American oversight.

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This arrangement follows a precedent already established with Singapore’s Air Force, which operates training squadrons at the same Idaho installation. The shared-training model allows partner nations to practice advanced flight operations within U.S. regulatory and security frameworks.

The plan stems from Qatar’s 2017 purchase of F-15QA fighter jets under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. Planning and environmental assessments began around 2020, culminating in this week’s formal approval.

Initial deployment will include around a dozen aircraft and roughly 300 combined personnel from both countries over the next decade, with flexibility for future expansion. The project underscores Doha’s growing defense profile and its role as a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.

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The announcement also comes as Qatar continues to play a central diplomatic role in regional conflicts, mediating ceasefire negotiations and maintaining channels between Washington and regional actors. U.S. officials have publicly acknowledged its importance in recent peace efforts.

While defense analysts view the agreement as a routine extension of allied cooperation, critics argue it raises questions about sovereignty and foreign military presence on American territory. Conservative activist Laura Loomer called the move “an abomination,” claiming it could compromise U.S. national security.

Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissed such concerns, reiterating that the base remains entirely American-controlled and that similar training partnerships have existed safely for decades.

As construction begins, the Idaho project stands as both a symbol of deepening strategic trust and a test of how far the U.S. can extend military collaboration without blurring national boundaries.