US, Qatar agree to Qatari air force training site at Idaho base
“Washington and Doha sign a deal for training at Mountain Home AFB.”
Key points
- Washington and Doha sign a deal for training at Mountain Home AFB.
- Facility will host Qatari F-15s and pilots to boost interoperability.
- Pentagon stresses it remains a U.S.-controlled base.
- Agreement follows U.S. security assurances to Qatar amid Gaza tensions.
The United States and Qatar have signed an agreement to establish a Qatari Emiri Air Force training facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deal alongside Qatar’s defense minister, describing the site as a hub for training Qatari F-15 pilots and for deepening interoperability between the two militaries.
The arrangement follows a recent executive order in which President Trump pledged to defend Qatar in the wake of tensions tied to the Gaza war. U.S. officials framed the facility as the latest example of a long-standing partnership that already includes large U.S. deployments at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Hegseth later clarified that the new location does not constitute a sovereign Qatari base on U.S. soil; the Pentagon retains control of Mountain Home, which also hosts foreign partners for training. The move drew mixed reactions on social media, even from some conservative voices, but defense leaders in Washington and Doha praised the agreement’s strategic value.
The training site is expected to enhance joint exercises, standardize tactics and streamline maintenance and logistics for F-15 operations. Officials also credited Qatar’s role in recent regional mediation, saying the collaboration reflects broader security ties beyond the Gaza ceasefire diplomacy.
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