Source: bbc.com
Qatar is trying to obtain the Trump administration’s support in the ongoing diplomatic crisis with some of its neighbouring states led by Saudi Arabia.
According to the Qatari Defense Ministry, Doha has signed a $12-billion contract to buy F-15 fighter jets from the US. The $12-billion deal was announced just days after US President Trump accused Qatar of supporting terrorism.
“The aircraft purchase was completed by Qatari Minister of Defence Khalid Al Attiyah and his US counterpart Jim Mattis in Washington DC on Wednesday, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).
Attiyah said the agreement underscores the “longstanding commitment of the state of Qatar in jointly working with our friends and allies in the United States in advancing our military cooperation for closer strategic collaboration in our fight to counter violent extremism and promote peace and stability in our region and beyond”.
The deal is “yet another step in advancing our strategic and cooperative defence relationship with the United States, and we look forward to continuing our joint military efforts with our partners here in the US”, said Attiyah.
The sale “will give Qatar a state-of-the-art capability and increase security cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Qatar”, the Defence Department said in a statement,” the Qatari state-run media outlet Al Jazeera reported.
Hey, it worked for the Saudis. ;)
Is this what they call “buying a favor” …
buying protection from maffia
the Trump arms bazaar is open to anyone who got the dollars, principles optional.
What quatar dont want the f-35, how odd
they want. but not get. :P
Buying for time, they know they are no longer secure with US or Saudi as allies. Their wealth is with the multi polar world alignment and nothing else will save them, not even a mark upon their door is available.
All GCC nations are going down the drain, especially Saudi after making ~$300bln last ditch arms contract with US. It’s do or die in Iran war, providing they can even defeat houthis in Yemen first. Then they run dry. Every year huge budget deficit increase.
Qatar will eventually jump into Iran bandwagon, which is much more resilient and innovative economically than Saudi, they just can’t do it publicly yet and must pay Mafia protection money in the mean while.
First you sell arms to both sides and then you make them fight to force them to buy even more arms It’s impressive how effective it is until today. You really dont have an wealth you cannot protect by yourself.
altogether want buy 71 planes for 21,5 billion dollars.
the golden question. who will be the pilot? ;)
Long-standing deal in the works for years. The sale was actually approved under the Obama administration in September of last year, but the deal wasn’t signed by Qatar until today. USD 4 billion for 36 F-15s, option for more. Israel was pissed because nobody else is suppose to be armed in the Middle East – they all could threaten Israel.
Kuwait was also part of the September White House approval. They were looking for 28 F/A-18 Super Hornets for about USD 3 billion. Bahrain was also looking to buy F-16s – no idea what happened to that head-chopper deal.
Mattis was eager to get this deal through because he wants everyone there armed up for the planned war with Iran. I suppose he figures Qatar can be regime-changed before Iran is attacked, and the replacement U.S. puppets will be eager to die in an Iranian war for the U.S.
That’s my official fifth-column position on the matter, commrades. Please check with Politico or ZOA for a more balanced, officially-approved view.
Trump is the one that orchestrated this scenario to go after Iran.