A $12bn deal to buy US F-15 fighter jets shows Qatar has deep-rooted support from Washington, a Qatari official said, adding that its rift with some other Arab states had not hurt the US relationship with Doha, Reuters reported.
The signing of the deal in Washington on Wednesday coincided with the arrival of two US Navy vessels at Qatar’s Hamad Port to participate in a joint exercise with the Qatari Emiri Navy.
"The deal and the naval exercise is a strong signal for Qatar and I am sure that reassures the government in Doha that their relationship is strong," a Western diplomat in Qatar told AFP.
Qatar is facing an economic and diplomatic boycott by Saudi Arabia and its regional allies who cut ties on June 5, accusing it of funding terrorist groups, a charge Doha denies, the Reuters report recalled.
US Defence and State Departments have tried to remain neutral in the dispute among key allies. Qatar is home to the headquarters for US air forces in the Middle East.
On Wednesday US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis signed the previously-approved warplane plane deal with Qatar’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. Qatar's ambassador to the US, Meshal Hamad al-Thani, posted a picture of the signing ceremony on Twitter.
"This is of course proof that US institutions are with us but we have never doubted that," a Qatari official in Doha said. "Our militaries are like brothers. America's support for Qatar is deep-rooted and not easily influenced by political changes."
A Qatari defence ministry source said the deal was for 36 jets. In November, under the administration of Barack Obama, the US approved a possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1bn. Boeing, the prime contractor on the sale, declined to comment.
A European diplomat in the Gulf said the timing of the deal appeared coincidental.
"Presumably the US could have delayed the deal if they had wanted to, although I do not think there is a great connect between sales and foreign policy."
Qatar is an important base for the US military carrying out operations against Islamic State militants and other groups in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and beyond. Al Udeid Air Base is home to more than 11,000 US and coalition troops.
Qatar News Agency had reported on Wednesday that the two US warships arrived at Hamad port as part of a planned joint military exercise involving marine forces.
The Pentagon said the jets sale would increase security co-operation between the US and Qatar and help them operate together. It added that Mattis and al-Attiyah had also discussed the current state of operations against Islamic State and the importance of de-escalating tensions in the Gulf.
The fighter jet deal had been stalled amid concerns raised by Israel that equipment sent to Gulf states could fall into the wrong hands and be used against it, and by the Obama administration's broader decision-making on military aid to the Gulf.
In his remarks to journalists in Kuwait yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Turkish criticism of economic sanctions by the three Gulf Arab states and Egypt against Qatar as "wrong", although he denied that Turkey was supporting one side. Cavusoglu had conducted talks in Qatar on Wednesday. He is due to fly on to Saudi Arabia today, according to AFP.
Turkey has backed Qatar in the crisis and President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Wednesday the rift was damaging the Islamic world and Ankara would do all it could by diplomatic channels to prevent any escalation.
"The deal and the naval exercise is a strong signal for Qatar and I am sure that reassures the government in Doha that their relationship is strong," a Western diplomat in Qatar told AFP.
Qatar is facing an economic and diplomatic boycott by Saudi Arabia and its regional allies who cut ties on June 5, accusing it of funding terrorist groups, a charge Doha denies, the Reuters report recalled.
US Defence and State Departments have tried to remain neutral in the dispute among key allies. Qatar is home to the headquarters for US air forces in the Middle East.
On Wednesday US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis signed the previously-approved warplane plane deal with Qatar’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. Qatar's ambassador to the US, Meshal Hamad al-Thani, posted a picture of the signing ceremony on Twitter.
"This is of course proof that US institutions are with us but we have never doubted that," a Qatari official in Doha said. "Our militaries are like brothers. America's support for Qatar is deep-rooted and not easily influenced by political changes."
A Qatari defence ministry source said the deal was for 36 jets. In November, under the administration of Barack Obama, the US approved a possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1bn. Boeing, the prime contractor on the sale, declined to comment.
A European diplomat in the Gulf said the timing of the deal appeared coincidental.
"Presumably the US could have delayed the deal if they had wanted to, although I do not think there is a great connect between sales and foreign policy."
Qatar is an important base for the US military carrying out operations against Islamic State militants and other groups in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and beyond. Al Udeid Air Base is home to more than 11,000 US and coalition troops.
Qatar News Agency had reported on Wednesday that the two US warships arrived at Hamad port as part of a planned joint military exercise involving marine forces.
The Pentagon said the jets sale would increase security co-operation between the US and Qatar and help them operate together. It added that Mattis and al-Attiyah had also discussed the current state of operations against Islamic State and the importance of de-escalating tensions in the Gulf.
The fighter jet deal had been stalled amid concerns raised by Israel that equipment sent to Gulf states could fall into the wrong hands and be used against it, and by the Obama administration's broader decision-making on military aid to the Gulf.
In his remarks to journalists in Kuwait yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Turkish criticism of economic sanctions by the three Gulf Arab states and Egypt against Qatar as "wrong", although he denied that Turkey was supporting one side. Cavusoglu had conducted talks in Qatar on Wednesday. He is due to fly on to Saudi Arabia today, according to AFP.
Turkey has backed Qatar in the crisis and President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Wednesday the rift was damaging the Islamic world and Ankara would do all it could by diplomatic channels to prevent any escalation.
Related Story
