On October 10, 2025, the Pentagon was the stage for an announcement that rippled far beyond Washington: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed a formal agreement to construct a Qatari Emiri Air Force training facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. The move, which capped years of negotiations and planning, immediately sparked a heated debate across the political spectrum and raised questions about the future of U.S. alliances, security, and local impact in Idaho.
The agreement, as reported by AFP and AP, will see Qatar make an initial 10-year commitment to build and maintain a dedicated facility within the existing U.S. Air Force base. The site, located about 50 miles southeast of Boise, is no stranger to international military cooperation. Since 2008, Singapore’s 428th Fighter Squadron Buccaneers have trained there, and similar arrangements exist with Germany, Turkiye, and several NATO members at other U.S. bases. But this new facility is designed specifically for squadron operations and hangars for the F-15QA—the Qatari variant of the renowned F-15 fighter jet.
“What we expect is it to be squadron operations and hangars for the F-15QA, because that’s the Qatari version of the jet that they bought through foreign military sales,” Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek explained to AP. She was quick to clarify a point that would later become a flashpoint on social media: “It is definitely still a U.S. Air Force base.”
That distinction didn’t stop a wave of online outrage. Right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, a close Trump ally, called the plan “an abomination,” adding, “No foreign country should have a military base on US soil. Especially Islamic countries.” Her comments echoed broader concerns about national security and sovereignty, especially in the wake of past incidents such as the 2019 mass shooting by a Saudi Air Force officer training at Pensacola Naval Air Station. That tragedy led to the expulsion of 21 Saudi students after investigations revealed troubling social media activity and other misconduct.
Yet, as AP and CNN both note, the Mountain Home arrangement is not a precedent-breaking foreign occupation. Security at the base will remain under U.S. Air Force control, and all personnel—American or Qatari—will be subject to the same credential checks at the gate. The facility, according to Qatar’s media attaché Ali al-Ansari, “will not be a Qatari airbase.” Instead, he described it as a dedicated training site “to offer advanced training and to enhance interoperability in defending and advancing our shared interests around the world.”
This interoperability is a central pillar of the U.S. military’s strategy. As Stefanek put it, “This partnership will provide advanced training opportunities and foster combined operational readiness for our two countries.” The U.S. military often deploys in tandem with allied forces, making well-trained partners essential for mission success and troop safety. The arrangement also carries economic benefits: local construction crews will build the new facilities, and local workers are expected to be employed during both construction and ongoing operations. Al-Ansari emphasized, “The project will lead to wide-ranging benefits including the creation of hundreds of jobs for Americans during both the construction and maintenance phases.”
The roots of the agreement stretch back to 2017, when Qatar decided to purchase F-15QA aircraft through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. According to AP, discussions about training Qatari troops on American soil began shortly after. An environmental assessment, launched around 2020, was completed in 2022, clearing the way for Friday’s announcement.
Mountain Home Air Force Base, sometimes called the “gunfighter” base, is a sprawling installation sitting between two mountain ranges on Idaho’s high desert tundra. It houses the 366th Fighter Wing, with more than 50 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, three fighter squadrons—including the Singaporean 428th—and an Air Control squadron and Air National Guard unit. All told, the base is home to about 5,100 military and civilian members, plus 3,500 family members. The base’s mission, according to its website, is to “provide mission-ready Gunfighters to conduct military operations anytime, anywhere.”
The timing of the announcement was no accident. It came as Qatar’s diplomatic clout was on full display, with the Gulf nation mediating a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that took effect the same day. Hegseth praised Qatar’s role, stating, “No one other than President [Donald] Trump could have achieved the peace that we believe will be a lasting peace in Gaza, and Qatar played a substantial role from the beginning.” Sheikh Saoud echoed this sentiment, highlighting the value of “courage and trust” in regional partnerships.
Qatar’s strategic importance to the U.S. is not limited to Idaho. The Gulf state hosts Al Udeid Air Base—the largest U.S. Air Force base in the Middle East—and was designated a major non-NATO ally by President Joe Biden in 2022. In recent months, Qatar has faced direct threats: an Iranian airstrike in June hit a communications dome at Al Udeid, and in September, an Israeli attack targeted a neighborhood in Qatar where Hamas negotiators were meeting, resulting in casualties among Qatar’s internal security forces. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani condemned the latter as “state terrorism.”
These incidents prompted a robust response from Washington. Former President Trump signed an executive order declaring, “Washington shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.” The order pledged that the U.S. would take “all lawful and appropriate measures—including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military—to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability.”
While the Idaho facility is the latest chapter in a long history of U.S. foreign military sales and training partnerships, it is not without controversy. Critics, mostly from the right, have voiced concerns about the wisdom of hosting foreign troops—particularly from Islamic countries—on American soil. Others have floated conspiracy theories linking the agreement to Qatar’s past gifts to U.S. leaders, though the timeline of negotiations predates such gestures.
Supporters argue that these partnerships are vital tools of U.S. foreign policy. The Arms Export Control Act allows the president to approve such sales and arrangements when they are deemed to enhance U.S. security or promote global peace. In an increasingly interconnected world, training together means fighting together—and, ideally, deterring conflicts before they start.
As construction begins on the new facility at Mountain Home, Idahoans may notice an influx of jobs and investment. But the bigger story is one of alliance, strategy, and the ever-shifting balance of global power. The coming years will reveal whether this bold partnership delivers on its promise of security, peace, and prosperity for both nations.
