The Pentagon said it will establish a specialized air training center for Qatari pilots in Idaho, underscoring deepening military cooperation between the United States and Qatar.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the plan on Friday following talks in Washington with Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The new facility will be built at Mountain Home Air Force Base and is expected to host Qatar's F-15 fighter jets and air crews.

Hegseth said the project aims to“strengthen joint training, enhance combat readiness, and improve operational coordination” between the two air forces. The U.S. military has established similar programs for other allies, including Singapore, which already operates a fighter squadron from the same base.

Officials described the initiative as part of a broader U.S. strategy to expand cooperation in military education, aviation technology, and security partnerships with Gulf allies.

Defense ties between Washington and Doha have strengthened steadily over the past decade. In 2020, the U.S. Air Force signed a deal to sell more than 35 F-15 jets to Qatar. A subsequent Air Force environmental review in 2022 revealed plans to station 12 of those aircraft at Mountain Home, where around 300 Qatari and American personnel would train jointly.

Analysts say the Idaho training program builds on that agreement and will allow both nations to conduct NATO-standard air exercises and enhance coordination for regional missions.

Experts view the project as a sign of Washington's continued investment in Gulf partnerships amid shifting regional dynamics and rising security threats.

Once operational, the Idaho training center is expected to boost Qatar's air capabilities and reaffirm its role as one of the United States' most important defense partners in the Middle East.

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