Pentagon Approves New Qatari Military Facility in Idaho — Here’s Why

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) and Qatari Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani sign a letter of agreement to establish a Qatari Emiri Air Force training facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10, 2025. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)

Washington, D.C. - October 10, 2025 – The Pentagon announced Friday that the U.S. military will host a new facility for the Qatari Emiri Air Force at Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho, allowing Qatari pilots to train on advanced F-15 fighter jets alongside American forces in a bid to bolster regional security ties. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a letter of acceptance formalizing the agreement, describing it as a "proud milestone" in deepening interoperability with a key Gulf ally.

The facility, set to be constructed on the 7,000-acre base in Elmore County—home to the U.S. Air Force's 366th Fighter Wing and its F-15E Strike Eagles—will house up to 100 Qatari personnel, including pilots and support staff, for joint exercises and simulations.Hegseth emphasized during a Pentagon briefing that the setup will "enhance our combined training, increase lethality, and interoperability," enabling Qatar to operate its recently acquired fleet of 36 Boeing F-15QA jets more effectively against shared threats like Iran-backed militias.Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, with an estimated cost of $50 million covered by Qatar, per defense officials.

This marks the first permanent foreign air force installation on U.S. soil since the end of the Cold War, building on existing foreign military training programs at bases like Nellis AFB in Nevada.Qatar, a major non-NATO ally that hosts the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East at Al Udeid, has invested over $12 billion in U.S. weapons since 2018, including the F-15QAs delivered starting in 2021.Proponents argue the Idaho site—chosen for its expansive airspace and proximity to the Idaho National Laboratory for tech integration—will save Qatar millions in overseas deployments while strengthening NATO-Gulf partnerships.

The announcement, however, ignited backlash from Trump administration hardliners and conservative influencers. Laura Loomer, a vocal MAGA commentator, blasted Hegseth on X as "compromised" for "handing over American soil to a Muslim Brotherhood sponsor," referencing Qatar's past ties to Islamist groups.Idaho's Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, whose district includes the base, welcomed the move in a statement, calling it a "win for jobs and security" that could generate 200 construction roles locally.Environmental groups raised concerns over potential impacts to the base's adjacent Owyhee Uplands, a sensitive sage grouse habitat, demanding a full environmental impact statement under NEPA.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Trump loyalist confirmed as defense chief in February, framed the deal as aligning with the administration's "peace through strength" doctrine, amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz where Qatari jets could play a deterrent role. As the U.S. navigates alliances in a multipolar world, this Idaho outpost symbolizes a new era of embedded training—potentially paving the way for similar setups with Saudi Arabia or the UAE.