Qatar and US have signed deals to boost defence and trade ties.
The deals come after talks between US President, Donald Trump and Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha.
US President Donald Trump arrived in the Qatari capital Doha for the second leg of his three-stop Gulf tour, after concluding his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he signed a plethora of deals and agreements with the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Qatar also signed an agreement to purchase 160 jets from US manufacturer Boeing for Qatar Airways.
Trump said that the agreement is for more than 160 jets worth more than $200bn, though a White House fact sheet later adjusted those numbers to 210 aircraft worth $96bn.
The US President said that Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg – who signed the deal with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer next to Trump and the Qatari Emir – told him, “It’s the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also signed agreements regarding defense, including a statement of intent on defense cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United States.
Hegseth also signed offer and acceptance letters for MQ 9B aircrafts and FS-LIDS.
Trump signed a joint declaration of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United States of America.
In a statement, the White House has said that the agreements signed today between Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will “generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion.”
The statement pointed to $243.5bn in economic deals, which include Qatar Airways buying Boeing planes, weapons acquisitions, and deals related to natural gas and quantum technologies.
It also said the US and Qatar had signed a statement of intent outlining more than $38bn in potential investments, including support for burden-sharing at Al Udeid Air Base, as well as future defence capabilities related to air defence and maritime security.
After a signing trade and defence deals with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump told media in Doha that the two had also discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump voiced hope that diplomatic efforts would succeed on Iran’s nuclear programme, even as he promised rigorous enforcement of sanctions.
Trump, on his first visit to the Middle East since returning to the White House, said that he spoke about Iran with the leader of Qatar, which maintains relations with both longtime adversaries. “It’s been really an interesting situation. I have a feeling it’s going to work out,” Trump said of Iran after talks with the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The Trump administration has held four rounds of talks with Tehran, as the president seeks to avert a threatened Israeli military strike on the Iranian nuclear programme.
Boeing Deal A ‘Win-Win’ For Qatar, US
Faisal Al-Mudahka, Editor-in-chief of the Gulf Times, said that Qatar Airways’ purchase of more than 160 Boeing aircraft – a deal Trump has hailed as the company’s largest ever – is a “win-win.”
He noted that as one of the world’s top airlines with a growing market, Qatar Airways has more demand than supply at the moment and will need the fleet.
“He opined that Donald Trump and Qatar know how to “package things” to make political gains and economic gains.
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