According to the US "Stars and Stripes", British Reuters and other media reports, US Defense Secretary Hegseth announced on the 10th local time that Qatar will be allowed to build a new air force facility in Idaho, USA, to park Qatari F-15 fighters and train their pilots. Both the United States and Qatar denied that "new air force facilities are equivalent to new air force bases".
"Stars and Stripes" said that Hegseth and visiting Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense, Suoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, announced at the Pentagon that the two sides would sign documents to build a facility for the Royal Qatar Air Force at Mountinholm Air Force Base in Idaho. Reuters added that Qatar will contribute to the project.
Reuters quoted U.S. officials as saying the facility had been built for years and would be used to support Qatar’s training of the 12 F-15 fighter jets it purchased, which would also be deployed there.
Reuters that shortly after the news was released, U.S. far-right Laura Lumer posted a loud criticism on social media platform X, accusing the Pentagon of handing over U.S. indigenous military bases to other countries. In a post on X, Hegel said, “It needs to be clear that Qatar will not have its own bases in the U.S. – nor will it have any similar facilities.
The Qatar Embassy also denied the claim that "a Qatar air force base was established (in the United States)."
According to the Stars and Stripes, although there are no foreign military bases in the United States, some foreign troops will conduct training activities here, and the Singapore Air Force also conducts training at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The White House announced on October 1 that President Trump signed an executive order on September 29 to enhance U.S. security commitments to Qatar. According to the order, the United States will regard any military attack on Qatar’s territory, sovereignty or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. peace and security. In response to such attacks, the United States will take all appropriate and legitimate measures, including diplomatic, economic and, where necessary, military means, to protect U.S. and Qatar’s interests and restore regional peace and stability. The United States will also jointly plan with Qatar to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to any act of aggression. It is understood that the United States has never previously made similar security commitments to other Arab countries. Later that day, the State Department issued a statement welcoming the U.S.
Source: Global Times