Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed a letter of acceptance at the Pentagon to establish a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
• The facility will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots for combined training intended to improve readiness and interoperability with U.S. aircrews.
• The Pentagon emphasized the site is not a sovereign foreign base and will operate within a U.S.-controlled installation, consistent with long-standing partner training arrangements.
• The plan aligns with a 2022 environmental review that envisioned infrastructure for 12 F-15QA aircraft, about 300 personnel, an initial 10-year period, and partner funding through Foreign Military Sales.
• The move follows President Trump’s recent order treating attacks on Qatar as threats to U.S. security and has prompted pushback from some conservative figures as Idaho lawmakers request implementation details.