President Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Wednesday, including a defense cooperation statement of intent between the United States and Qatar, and a record-breaking agreement with Boeing, the largest order in the company’s history.
The agreements included a major purchase of 160 aircraft from Boeing and a letter of intent to buy U.S.-made MQ-9 drones. The Trump Organization also struck a new deal to develop a luxury golf resort in Qatar in partnership with Qatari Diar, a firm backed by the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.
Al Thani called the meeting and agreements “great,” saying they elevated U.S.-Qatar relations to “another level.” The evolving relationship marks a sharp shift from 2017, when Trump publicly accused Qatar of funding terrorism “at a very high level.” In 2022, Biden designated Qatar a major non-NATO ally. The country hosts Al Udeid Air Base, a key U.S. military hub in the region.
Qatar has played a central role in international diplomacy, especially in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas. On Tuesday, Israeli officials were in Doha discussing a possible hostage exchange and ceasefire deal. Qatari and U.S. negotiators recently helped secure the release of American George Glezmann from Taliban custody, and on Monday, they brokered the release of the last known American hostage held by Hamas, Edan Alexander.
