Trump became the second U.S. leader to visit Qatar, where the two nations signed landmark agreements in aviation and defence.
Qatar and U.S. signed aviation and defence agreements to bolster bilateral ties during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf nation on Wednesday.
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Trump signed a joint declaration of cooperation at Amiri Diwan after a couple of hours of private meetings.
Qatar Airways signed an agreement to purchase 160 aircraft worth $200bn from Boeing, which makes it the largest-ever order in the U.S. manufacturer’s history.
Both countries also penned a statement of intent to enhance military cooperation, along with a letter of offer and acceptance covering the sale of MQ-9B drones and FS-LIDS air defence systems.
Trump became the second U.S. president ever to visit the Gulf State as he begun the second leg of his Middle East trip on Wednesday.
Trump had met Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the interim president of Syria, and addressed the GCC-U.S. Summit in Riyadh prior to landing in Doha.
To see how Trump’s day in Doha unfolded, see Doha News’ live blog below:
U.S. secures $1.2 trillion economic commitment in Qatar
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and U.S. President Donald Trump have announced landslide agreements and statements on Wednesday that are estimated to generate economic exchanges worth $1.2 trillion between the two nations, according to a White House fact sheet published after their official meeting in Doha.
Eventful day in Doha, dinner next
On U.S. President Donald Trump’s agenda for the day is the state dinner, hosted by Qatar’s Amir. Delegates and dignitaries from both sides will attend the banquet at the Lusail Palace.
[Posted 6:00 PM]
Qatar-U.S. relations off to ‘another level’, says Qatar’s Amir
Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said the new agreements, signed after “great” couple of hours of meeting with the U.S. President, will propel the bilateral relations to a new level.
“After signing these documents, we are going to another level of relations,” he said, addressing the media during the signing ceremony.
[Posted 5:28 PM]
‘Discussed the world’ with Sheikh Tamim, says Trump
The private meeting with Sheikh Tamim involved discussions about the issues of the “whole world”, U.S. President Donald Trump said, after the signing ceremony at Amiri Diwan. Issues included the war in Gaza, Iran, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, he added.
“You are of great help,” Trump told the Amir of Qatar, reiterating the friendship that exists between the two leaders. Trump also described the Qataris as “tall handsome guys” that are “very intelligent”.
[Posted 5:26 PM]
Qatar-U.S. sign agreement to boost defence ties
Several defence agreements were signed between Qatar and the U.S. at Amiri Diwan in Doha, which was then wrapped up by President Trump and Sheikh Tamim signing a joint declaration of cooperation between the two countries.
[Posted 5:14 PM]
Qatar Airways confirms biggest Boeing order ever
Qatar’s national carrier will purchase 160 aircraft from Boeing, which will be the U.S.-based manufacturer’s biggest ever order, after an agreement was signed between both parties on the occasion of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit on Wednesday.
Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer had said a “sizeable” order of widebodied aircraft would be announced within weeks, in an interview with Bloomberg in April.
[Posted 5:11 PM]
Bilateral meetings underway at Amiri Diwan
Bilateral meetings between the U.S. and Qatar have begun at the Amiri Diwan away from the cameras, Al Jazeera reported.
“Now they [the US president and Qatari emir] will speak and do the real business. That’s how diplomacy works,” the network’s diplomatic editor James Bays wrote.
[Posted 3:53 PM]
Friendship with Qatar ‘loyal’ and beautiful’, says Trump
During the brief interaction with Sheikh Tamim in front of the media, U.S. President Donald Trump described U.S.-Qatar relations as a “very loyal, beautiful friendship”.
“I want to thank you for everything and particularly our friendship,” Trump said, adding his administration looks forward to taking the bilateral cooperation to the next level, particularly in peace-building efforts.
[Posted 3:38 PM]
Qatari jets escort Trump’s Air Force One
Several officials onboard President Trump’s aircraft have posted footage of Qatar’s F-15 jets escorting the Air Force One as it entered Qatar’s airspace.
“A squadron of aircraft from the Qatari Amiri Air Force accompanied the plane of the U.S. President as it entered Qatari airspace, in a gesture of welcome to His Excellency,” Qatar’s Amiri Diwan said in a statement.
[Posted 3:25 PM]
Qatar’s Amir calls Trump ‘a man of peace’
Following the welcome ceremony at Amiri Diwan, Sheikh Tamim said he was “very excited” to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump for a visit that could mark a new chapter in the bilateral relations between Qatar and the U.S.
“I’ve known you for many years. I know that you are a man of peace,” Sheikh Tamim said in a brief interaction in front of the cameras. “I know that you want to bring peace to this region.
“We hope that this time we can do the wise thing and bring peace.”
[Posted 3:08 PM]
Sheikh Tamim and Trump arrive at Amiri Diwan
The official proceedings of the U.S. President’s Qatar visit will kick off now, following a grand welcome ceremony at the Amiri Diwan.
A band played both the U.S. and Qatari national anthems after the presidential motorcade arrived at the Amiri Diwan, some 45 minutes behind the original schedule.
[Posted 2:55 PM]
Sheikh Tamim receives Trump in Doha
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received Trump at the Hamad International Airport, shortly after the U.S. President landed.
Sheikh Tamim arrived moments before Trump after taking part in the GCC-U.S. Summit, which was attended by leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Trump’s visit to mark ‘age of understanding’ between Qatar and U.S.
In a roundtable organised in the precursor to President Trump’s Middle East trip, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, Timmy Davis, said the visit “feels like a crescendo” and a moment of celebration of Doha and Washington’s ties.
Several agreements and announcements are set to take place during Trump’s stopover in Doha.
Doha News’ senior journalist Asmahan Qarjouli’s report:
