23 June, 2017
Qatari Defence Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah and his U.S. counterpart James Mattis completed the US$12 billion (S$16.5 billion) agreement on Wednesday in Washington, according to the Pentagon.
In light of the six Middle Eastern countries that cut all ties with Qatar last week, Donald Trump had approved of their decision, saying: "The nation of Qatar has unfortunately been a funder of terrorism, and at a very high level".
Despite the rift between #Qatar and its Arab neighbors, The United States has struck a deal that would see a $12 billion worth of US F-15 fighters sold to the Gulf nation.
The purchase is expected to increase Qatar's capability, improved security cooperation and interoperability between the two allies, a spokesman for Pentagon Lt. Col. Rogers Cabiness briefed CNN.
Qatar is also home to Al-Udeid, the USA military's largest base in the Middle East.
"Just like other countries, like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt.it is natural for Qatar to buy airplanes or parts necessary for its own defence", Cavusoglu said in Kuwait following talks with his Kuwaiti counterpart, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency. Mattis has described Qatar as "moving in the right direction", while U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said called for Arab Gulf nations to remain united. It also hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region.
Qatar's Ministry of Defence said that the deal would create 60,000 jobs in 42 USA states while reducing the burden on American forces.
In November previous year, the United States approved possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1 billion.
"Although the kingdom is a party in this crisis, we know that King Salman is a party in resolving it", the Turkish minister said.
Saudi Arabia and allies have imposed a political and economic "blockade" on Qatar, in protest at Doha's support for Islamist extremist groups as well as over its ties to Shiite Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson initially declined to take sides, but his cautious approach was overshadowed nearly immediately by President Donald Trump - who sent tweets appearing to take credit for and praising the Saudi-led bloc's decision. Riyadh sealed its border, closed its air space to Qatari Airways and - along with Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt - severed diplomatic relations.
"Qatar long has wanted to make itself a particularly important ally for America where it can", Roberts said. Its feeder flights in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also been disrupted.
