U.S. Secretly Reaches An Agreement With Qatar To Keep Operating The Largest Military Base In The Middle East For 10 More Years

General view of U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircrafts at al-Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar September 7, 2021. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo 

CNN: US quietly reaches agreement with Qatar to keep operating largest military base in Middle East 

The United States has quietly reached an agreement that extends its military presence at a sprawling base in Qatar for another 10 years, three US defense officials and another official familiar with the agreement told CNN. 

The deal, which has not been announced publicly, highlights Washington’s reliance on the tiny Gulf country that has recently played a central role in mediating the release of Americans from captivity in Gaza and Venezuela. 

The Al Udeid Air Base, located in the desert southwest of Doha, is the biggest US military installation in the Middle East and can house more than 10,000 American troops. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Al Udeid last month where he thanked Qatar for their increased spending on the base. 

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WNU Editor: There has been no official confirmation of this agreement. 

U.S. Secretly Reaches An Agreement With Qatar To Keep Operating The Largest Military Base In The Middle East For 10 More Years  

U.S. reaches agreement with Qatar to keep operating largest military base in Middle East for 10 more years: report -- DOHA News  

US Reaches Deal to Extend Military Presence at Qatar Base -Source -- Reuters  

US secretly prolongs military base deal with Qatar – CNN -- RT

U.S. State Department Approves $1 Billion Arms Sale To Qatar

President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, Jan. 31, 2022 (AP photo by Alex Brandon).  

Daily Mail: BREAKING NEWS - Biden administration confirms $1 BILLION in arms sales to Qatar at half time during crucial World Cup win over Iran: State Department sends over anti-drone systems in huge package 

The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a $1 billion arms sale to Qatar in a transaction unveiled during halftime of the key World Cup 2022 match in Doha between Iran and the United States. 

The State Department announced it had signed off on Qatar´s purchase of 10 defensive drone systems, 200 interceptors and related equipment just as the second half of the US-Iran game began.  

Qatar, along with other Gulf Arab states, faces threats from Iranian-backed proxies in the region.  

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 U.S. State Department Approves $1 Billion Arms Sale To Qatar  

U.S. State Department approves potential anti-drone system sale to Qatar for $1 billion -- Reuters 

US Approves $1 Bn Sale Of Counter-drone Systems To Qatar -- AFP  

U.S. approves $1 billion arms sale to Qatar during USMNT World Cup match -- Qatar

President Biden Names Qatar As A Major Non-NATO Ally As A European Energy Crisis Looms

 

Politico: Biden to designate Qatar a ‘major non-NATO ally’ 

The announcement comes amid discussions on a European energy contingency plan should Russian troops invade Ukraine. 

President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intended to designate Qatar as a “major non-NATO ally,” during a meeting with the country’s head of state, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, at the White House. 

“I am notifying Congress that I will designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally to reflect the importance of our relationship," Biden said. 

"I think it’s long overdue.” Bahrain and Kuwait are the only other non-NATO allies in the Gulf.  

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WNU Editor: Another episode of the press being chased out of the room .... Biden GRIMACES as staffers rush shouting press out of the Oval Office after telling Qatar's emir he will become a major non-NATO ally in bid to defend European gas supplies (Daily Mail). 

President Biden Names Qatar As A Major Non-NATO Ally  

Biden names Qatar major non-NATO ally as energy crisis looms -- AP 

Biden tells emir he will make Qatar major non-NATO ally -- Reuters  

Biden receives emir of Qatar, strengthens alliance amid fears Russia will close gas spigot to Europe -- FOX News  

Biden says he will designate Qatar as major non-NATO ally -- The Hill

170 Members Of Qatar's Air Force To Come To The U.S. To Fly The Newest Model Of The F-15 Fighter

F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. (John T. Winn/Air Force National Guard) 

Stars and Stripes/Idaho Statesman: $12 billion deal may bring hundreds of Qatar, US Air Force members to Idaho base 

BOISE, Idaho (Tribune News Service) — The U.S. Air Force soon may bring 170 members of Qatar's air force to live on the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. They would be coming to learn to fly the newest model of the F-15 fighter jet specially modified for the Persian Gulf state. 

The Qatar trainees may be in for a culture shock should they find themselves in the city of Mountain Home. More than 90% of Qataris live in the capital of Doha, which is full of skyscrapers, luxury hotels and attractions, museums and world-class food. 

The country is also incredibly flat and dry, with the majority of its land being desert. Qatar is one of just four areas in the world without a single forest. Not to mention the differing temperatures between Qatar and Idaho: Qatar averages 107 degrees in July and rarely gets below 50 degrees even in winter.  

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WNU Editor: Qatar received its first batch of F-15s last year .... Qatar receives first batch of US-made F-15 combat planes (Al Jazeera).

Qatar Agrees To Act As The US Diplomatic Representative In Afghanistan

 

Axios: Qatar agrees to represent U.S. interests in Taliban-led Afghanistan 

Qatar has agreed to become the "protecting power" for U.S. interests in Afghanistan, taking on a formal role as the diplomatic intermediary between Washington and the new Taliban government, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday.  

Why it matters: The U.S. has shown no indication it will recognize the Taliban government, but diplomatic engagement will be necessary in order to stave off the mass humanitarian crisis bearing down on Afghanistan as winter approaches.  

Driving the news: An agreement signed Friday will establish a special section in the Qatar Embassy in Kabul to provide certain consular services to U.S. citizens and monitor the security conditions of American diplomatic assets in Afghanistan.  

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Update #1: Qatar agrees to represent the U.S. in Afghanistan following the U.S. Embassy closure (AP) Update #2: Qatar to formally represent US interests in Afghanistan (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: What was completely unthinkable only 6 months ago is now the new reality.