“This is not a ‘Qatari base,'” Qatari embassy official says of Idaho site

FIRST ON FOX: A senior official from the Qatari Embassy in the United States presented key details surrounding the agreement. newly announced training center which will be built in Idaho and will serve to strengthen the alliance between this Middle Eastern country and the United States

Speculation has increased among several members of Congress regarding the details surrounding the nature of the training center after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the construction of “a Qatari UAE Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.”

“This is not a Qatari base,” Hamad Mohammed AlMuftah, deputy chief of mission of the Qatari embassy in Washington, DC, told Fox News Digital. “Qatar will fully fund the construction of the training center, as well as barracks for the Airmen stationed there. This will result in no cost to the U.S. taxpayer and, in fact, the investment will support and generate jobs in the Idaho region.”

Trump extends US security guarantee to Qatar, elevating Gulf ally to near-NATO status

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Qatari Air Force will train at a U.S. facility in Idaho on October 10, 2025. (Alex Wroblewski/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“In 2017, the United States and Qatar finalized a $12 billion deal to F-15QA fighter jet“, Hamad continued. “This agreement has been years in the making and is similar to existing programs between the United States and several of its international allies.”

“This represents a continued expression of strong defense partnership between Qatar and the United Statesincluding continued cooperation to further expand our collective defense capabilities,” Hamad added.

President Donald TrumpQatar’s war secretary reiterated that the Qataris “will not have their own base” in a social media post at the time the deal was announced.

“Important clarification,” Hegseth said in a post on. “The U.S. military has a long-standing partnership with Qatar, including the cooperation announced today with the F-15QA aircraft.”

Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud Al Thani signs an agreement with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, October 10, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (John McDonnell/Getty Images)

KIRON SKINNER: TRUMP’S GREAT PEACE STRATEGY IS BEING FRUIT, IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AROUND THE WORLD

“However, to be clear, Qatar will not have its own base in the United States, or anything resembling a base,” Hegseth added. “We control the existing base, as we do with all partners.”

A senior Qatari official told Fox News Digital that the deal was a 10-year commitment to welcoming Qatari fighter pilots to the Idaho base.

When negotiations began under the Biden administration, there was discussion about locating the training center in Michigan, although it was later agreed that the Qataris would train with U.S. soldiers at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

As for Idaho’s elected officials, Governor Brad Little, Senators Mike Crapo and James Risch, as well as Representative Mike Simpson, all Republicans, wrote a letter to Hegseth last week to share concerns and questions regarding the installation.

“In the interest of informing our constituents, maintaining open lines of communication, and fostering closer federal and state collaboration regarding this training squadron, we would like the department to provide more information on the plans and intentions of this mission now that it appears to be finalized,” the elected officials’ letter read.

President Donald Trump and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during Trump’s visit to Doha, Qatar, in May. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“We ask that you provide a briefing to Idaho’s congressional delegation, as well as the Idaho Governor and state legislators potentially affected by the agreement, in Boise on the details of this agreement,” the governor and members of Congress added.

SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH SAYS WE HAVE LEAD HIS NINTH STRIKE AGAINST SUSPECTED DRUG SHIPS

Simpson, who joined the letter, initially welcomed the move after it was announced.

“Fantastic news for Mountain Home Air Force Base as @SecWar just announced that the Pentagon has agreed to host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots here in Idaho,” Reading Simpson’s Message. “This development benefits training, strengthens our partnership with U.S. allies, and strengthens national security.”

An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, where the Qataris will soon train fighter pilots after a deal between the Middle Eastern country and the United States. (Hum Images/Universal Images Group)

“As I await further details on the agreement, I will continue to work with Air Force and Mountain Home base leadership to ensure they have the support needed to achieve global military readiness goals that keep Idahoans and Americans safe and protect our long-term national security interests,” Crapo said in a statement.

Although the US base in Doha, Qatar, is considered US territory, the Idaho training center will not be considered Qatari territory and will remain under US control.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to Little’s office but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Preston Mizell is a writer for Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on X @MizellPreston