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GlobaraNews

Daily Situation News around the world.

Trump signs agreements with Qatar on defense and Boeing purchases

Qatar says its relationship with the US has been elevated to โ€˜another levelโ€™

 

President Donald Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatarโ€™s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday.

The agreements involved a purchasing agreement by Qatar for Boeing aircraft, as well as letters of intent and โ€œjoint cooperationโ€ between Qatar and the U.S. The emir also signed an intent agreement to purchase MQ-9 drone aircraft.

Al Thani said he had a โ€œgreatโ€ conversation with Trump prior to the signing ceremony on Wednesday, adding that the agreements have elevated the U.S.-Qatar relationship to โ€œanother level.โ€

The deepening U.S. relationship with Qatar has drawn fresh scrutiny this week, both due to Trumpโ€™s visit and amid reports that his administration may accept a free jet from the Qatari royal family to temporarily replace the current Air Force One.

TRUMP SAYS HEโ€™LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS

DOHA, QATAR - MAY 14: U.S. President Donald J. Trump attends a meeting with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani at the Amiri Diwan, the official workplace of the emir, on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. The visit underscores the strategic partnership between the United States and Qatar, focusing on regional security and economic collaboration. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald J. Trump attends a meeting with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani at the Amiri Diwan, the official workplace of the emir, on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The prospect has drawn bipartisan pushback, which Trump has met with indifference.

โ€œQatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally. I mean, they support Hamas. So what Iโ€™m worried about is the safety of the president,โ€ Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told reporters on Tuesday.

TRUMP DEFENDS QATAR JUMBO JET OFFER AS TROUBLED BOEING FAILS TO DELIVER NEW AIR FORCE ONE FLEET

U.S. relations with Doha have come a long way since 2017, when Trump accused Qatar of harboring terrorism: โ€œThe nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level,โ€ Trump said at the time.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomes President Donald Trump during an official welcoming ceremony at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. 

Qatarโ€™s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomes President Donald Trump during an official welcoming ceremony at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

From there, Qatar became a major non-NATO ally to the U.S. in 2022 under President Joe Biden and is home to Al Udeid Air Base, one of the U.S.โ€™s largest Middle Eastern bases and a key hub for U.S. Central Command operations.

Qatar has been at the forefront of peace and hostage negotiations, especially in the war between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli delegation traveled to Doha on Tuesday to hash out a potential agreement on a hostage exchange and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

In March, weeks of negotiations led by U.S. and Qatari mediators led to the release of American George Glezmann, who had been imprisoned by the Taliban in Afghanistan for more than two years. Dohaโ€™s negotiators were also involved in the U.S.-Hamas deal to release the last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, on Monday.

An MQ-9 Reaper drone

Qatarโ€™s government signed an intent agreement to purchase MQ-9 reaper drones. (John Moore/Getty Images)