Qatar Purchases 210 Boeing Aircraft
Exports Include Drone Defense Systems and Unmanned Military Aircraft
Secures 'Oil Money' in Exchange for Security Cooperation
During his Middle East tour, U.S. President Donald Trump secured $243.5 billion (approximately 340 trillion won) in exports and investments from Qatar. Following his achievement of $600 billion in export and investment deals with Saudi Arabia the previous day, he is consecutively finalizing major economic and security package deals in the Middle East, leveraging security cooperation in exchange for substantial oil money.
The White House announced on May 14 (local time) that President Trump had signed $243.5 billion worth of economic and security agreements in Qatar. President Trump and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, personally signed the deals. These agreements are expected to lay the foundation for at least $1.2 trillion or more in future economic exchanges.
The major contracts signed that day included Qatar Airways’ purchase of 210 Boeing aircraft from the United States, valued at $96 billion. Raytheon, a U.S. defense contractor, will supply drone defense systems to Qatar for $1 billion, and General Atomics will provide MQ-9B unmanned military aircraft to Qatar for $2 billion, among other deals.
The White House stated, "Today's monumental deal will foster innovation and prosperity for generations and strengthen America's manufacturing and technological leadership," adding, "It will set the United States on the path to a new golden age."
The United States and Qatar also signed a letter of intent to strengthen their security partnership. This letter of intent, which includes potential investments totaling $38 billion, focuses on U.S. support for Qatar's future security capabilities in air defense and maritime security, as well as sharing the burden at the local 'Al Udeid' Air Base.
This announcement came on the second day of President Trump's Middle East tour. After securing $600 billion in investment and export cooperation from Saudi Arabia, his first stop, President Trump also received a large package of deals from Qatar, his second destination. He is consecutively striking major security and economic deals, attracting substantial oil money in return for enhanced security cooperation with wealthy Gulf states.
The White House stated, "Today's agreement demonstrates President Trump's intent to accelerate Qatar's defense investments in the U.S.-Qatar security partnership, strengthening regional deterrence and benefiting American industry."
On the third day of his Middle East tour, May 15, President Trump will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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