US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud al-Thani at the Pentagon on Friday for bilateral talks, shortly after a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Before the meeting, Hegseth hosted an honor cordon ceremony for Sheikh Saoud. The discussion took place behind closed doors, focusing on regional stability and ongoing defense cooperation.
The meeting followed the announcement of a 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Türkiye. The agreement, initially outlined by US President Donald Trump on September 29, includes the release of hostages and prisoners, a full ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
Ahead of their talks, Hegseth expressed appreciation for Qatar’s mediation efforts, describing the outcome as “historic peace.”
“Qatar played a substantial role from the beginning, working with our folks to ensure that came about,” he said.
Sheikh Saoud highlighted Qatar’s cooperation with Washington in achieving the ceasefire.
“Qatar values the close cooperation between Doha and Washington that led to the signing of the Gaza peace plan,” he said. “This historic achievement underscores what our nations can accomplish together, with courage and trust, alongside other partners such as Egypt and Türkiye.”
The ceasefire comes after nearly a year of conflict, during which Israeli operations in Gaza have killed close to 67,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave facing widespread famine and disease. Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya stated that the group received guarantees that the truce “means the war in Gaza has ended completely.”
Qatar to Establish Air Force Facility in the US
During the visit, Hegseth announced that the US and Qatar had signed a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho. The base will host Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance joint training and interoperability between the two air forces.
“It’s just another example of our partnership,” Hegseth said.
Sheikh Saoud said the project reflects the depth of the defense relationship between the two countries.
“This step strengthens interoperability, enhances joint readiness, and advances our shared defense goals,” he noted.
