U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani present a signed agreement as they meet at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 10, 2025.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced an agreement to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at a U.S. Air Force Base in Idaho.
Hegeth said the facility at the Mountain Home Air Force Base will allow pilots from Qatar’s air force to train with American military personnel.
The Defense secretary made the announcement at a Pentagon press conference with Qatari Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Hegseth said the facility will “host a contingent a Qatari F-15’s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability, it’s just another example of our partnership.”
The Mountain Home Air Force Base currently has a contingent of F-15 fighter jets from Singapore’s air force stationed there as part of a training program for that nation’s pilots.
The Pentagon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Hegseth’s announcement.
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