Trump Signs Sweeping Set of Defense Deals During Qatar Visit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump signed major defense and aviation deals with Qatar during his visit to Doha, including an agreement for 160 Boeing jets and letters of intent for U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper drones. Trump praised Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the deepening U.S.-Qatar partnership. The agreements mark a turning point in a once-strained relationship, now elevated to “another level.”
US-Qatar Agreements Quick Looks
- Trump and Qatari Emir signed multiple deals in Doha on Wednesday
- $200 billion Boeing deal includes 160 aircraft purchases
- Letter of intent signed for MQ-9 Reaper drones
- Trump praised the emir for “longtime friendship” and economic cooperation
- Qatar hailed the agreements as elevating ties to “another level”
- U.S.-Qatar relations now include strategic defense and economic links
- Qatar once accused by Trump of terrorism support, now seen as a key regional partner
- Qatar is home to Al Udeid Air Base, a major U.S. military hub
- Recent mediation by Qatar helped secure hostage releases from Hamas and the Taliban
- The Trump Organization secured a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar
Deep Look: Trump Seals Landmark Military and Aviation Deals with Qatar
DOHA, Qatar — May 14, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping set of defense and aviation agreements with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations that just a few years ago teetered on the edge of collapse.
The centerpiece of the deal: Qatar Airways’ commitment to purchase 160 Boeing aircraft, a transaction that Trump said was valued at over $200 billion and dubbed by Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg as “the largest jet order in Boeing’s history.”
“It’s a record — congratulations to Boeing. Get those planes out there,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.
The event also featured a letter of intent to purchase U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper drones, underscoring Qatar’s growing role as a defense partner amid rising tensions in the Gulf region.
From Friction to Friendship
The moment represented a stark reversal from Trump’s 2017 comments, when he accused Qatar of “funding terrorism at a very high level.” Since then, under both Trump and President Biden, the U.S.-Qatar relationship has undergone a dramatic rehabilitation.
In 2022, Qatar was designated a major non-NATO ally, and today it hosts Al Udeid Air Base, one of the U.S. military’s largest strategic hubs in the Middle East.
“I had a great conversation with President Trump,” said Emir Al Thani. “These agreements have taken our relationship to another level.”
Strategic Role in Regional Security
Beyond economic cooperation, Qatar has emerged as a critical mediator in Middle Eastern diplomacy:
- Helped broker the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander earlier this week
- Facilitated the freedom of American hostage George Glezmann from Taliban captivity in March
- Hosted an Israeli delegation in Doha on Tuesday to negotiate a possible Gaza ceasefire
The emir’s government has also pledged to invest billions in American infrastructure and defense industries, with Trump now embracing the Gulf state as an indispensable ally.
Backlash Over Qatar Jet Gift
The timing of Trump’s visit has raised eyebrows in Washington. Reports that Qatar may offer a free Boeing 747-8 jet as a stopgap replacement for the aging Air Force One fleet have drawn bipartisan criticism.
“Qatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally. They support Hamas,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), voicing security concerns.
Trump, unfazed, replied: “Oh, what I do for the crown prince.”
The Trump administration maintains that any aircraft donation would be temporarily used and later converted into a museum piece for a future Trump presidential library.
Business and Diplomacy Intersect
Alongside the formal government deals, The Trump Organization finalized a private development partnership with Qatari Diar — a sovereign wealth-backed real estate firm — to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar. The agreement aligns with Trump’s broader strategy of merging diplomatic outreach with commercial opportunities.
While critics allege conflicts of interest, the Trump team touts it as a sign of “mutual trust and long-term vision” between the two nations.
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