The White House has announced that the U.S. and Qatar have inked deals worth at least $1.2 trillion, including a major transaction which would see Qatar Airways buy 210 aircraft from the U.S. company Boeing.
Other parts of the deal included purchases of drone and anti-drone technology from U.S. defence companies like Raytheon and investments in the U.S. energy sector.
A joint declaration of cooperation was also signed between the two countries.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani hailed U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Doha on Wednesday as “historic,” affirming that it marks a turning point in the strategic relationship between the two countries.
“We had a couple of hours of a great meeting with the president, and we discussed many issues on our great bilateral relationship and the situation in the region,” Al-Thani said during the signing ceremony for several agreements between the two countries.
“I think after signing these documents, we are going to another level of relationship between Qatar and the U.S.”
“I just wanted to thank you, Mr. President, again for this historic visit,” said Al-Thani.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Later, the Qatari Emir held an official dinner banquet in honor of Trump and his accompanying delegation at the Lusail Palace, said the Amiri Diwan, the administrative office of the Emir.
During the event, Al-Thani delivered a speech in which he highlighted the close cooperation between the two countries in many fields, especially energy.
He referred to the Golden Pass project to receive Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) which will be launched in the U.S. during Trump’s presidency and will provide the United States and other countries with LNG, in addition to the Golden Triangle Project, which will also be launched in the same presidential period.
The Emir stressed the keenness of Qatar and the U.S. and their peoples “to establish peace in the region and the world, noting the joint diplomatic efforts of the two countries to stop the war in the Gaza Strip, work to protect all civilians, especially women and children, and ensure the release of all hostages,” added the Amiri Diwan.
Trump’s visit to Doha is part of a Gulf tour that began Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to conclude Friday in the United Arab Emirates.
His visit to Qatar is the first by a US president to the Gulf country since George W. Bush’s visit in 2003.
Key U.S. ally
The United States and Qatar have developed a robust strategic partnership since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972, following Qatar’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.
This alliance has grown through military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation, positioning Qatar as a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.
The Qatar-U.S. relationship strengthened during the 1991 Gulf War, leading to a defence cooperation agreement. This laid the foundation for deeper military ties.
In 1992 Qatar began hosting U.S. military forces, with the Al Udeid Air Base becoming a critical hub. It now hosts the U.S. Central Command’s Forward Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center, supporting operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
Al Udeid hosts about 10,000 U.S. troops and is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Qatar funds a significant portion of the base’s operating costs, showcasing its commitment to the partnership.
In 2022 President Biden designated Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally, recognising its contributions to U.S. security interests, including hosting Al Udeid and aiding evacuations from Afghanistan in 2021. This status, making Qatar the third Gulf nation after Kuwait and Bahrain, grants special economic and military privileges.
The U.S. is Qatar’s fifth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $6.7 billion in 2023. Qatar imported $4.6 billion in U.S. goods, including aviation and energy equipment. Qatar’s investments in the U.S., exceeding $45 billion, include the Golden Pass LNG project in Texas.
