Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly announced Friday that the United States will host a new Qatari air force training facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho, expanding the long-standing defense partnership between Washington and Doha.
The Trump administration has signed a letter authorizing the creation of a Qatar Emiri Air Force contingent at the base, where Qatari pilots will train to fly F-15 fighter jets.
The move underscores both nations’ shared interest in bolstering military readiness and regional security.
“Location will be host to a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability,” Hegseth said during a joint appearance with Qatari Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Pentagon. “It’s just another example of our partnership.”
The new initiative makes Mountain Home the second international hub for allied air forces operating on U.S. soil.
The base already hosts Singapore’s F-15SG fighter jets, and now Qatar will join as the latest partner training alongside American personnel.
Hegseth emphasized that the agreement reflects “the strength of the partnership between Qatar and the U.S.,” particularly noting Doha’s role in recent diplomatic efforts. “You have been a core part of what has unfolded in Gaza, a historic moment,” he said. “We’re grateful for the strong partnership that we have, the way you support our troops at Al Udeid, Your Excellency, the line of communication we’ve had together.”
Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar serves as the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East and a key forward operating hub for American forces. Qatar’s cooperation, Hegseth said, has been essential to maintaining stability in the region and ensuring that American and allied interests are defended.
The announcement comes just weeks after President Trump issued an executive order expanding U.S. commitments to defend Qatar following an Israeli strike in Doha that killed six people, including a Qatari security officer.
“In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability,” the Oct. 1 order states.
The order reflects a new phase in the U.S.-Qatar relationship, one that couples deepening defense cooperation with a broader diplomatic understanding in the Middle East. Administration officials describe the Idaho facility as a concrete example of that growing trust.
The Qatari air force, known formally as the Qatar Emiri Air Force, is expanding its F-15 fleet under contracts with the United States, part of a modernization effort aimed at strengthening regional defense. The Idaho training site will allow Qatari pilots to learn directly from U.S. Air Force instructors in advanced combat and flight operations.
Earlier this year, the Qatari government also gifted a $400 million aircraft to the United States — a plane that, once retrofitted, will serve as Air Force One. Though some experts have raised concerns about the optics of such a gift, administration officials say the aircraft represents a symbol of trust between the two nations and a commitment to shared security objectives.
For Hegseth and the Trump administration, the Idaho announcement represents more than a training deal — it marks a reaffirmation of American strength and leadership abroad, grounded in alliances that, in their view, make the United States safer at home.
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