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When the US Secretary of Defense pete hegseth It was announced Friday morning that an agreement has been reached with the federal government Queue to build a facility air force With the base in Idaho, social media posts began appearing online by people from across the political spectrum expressing outrage at the concept of a foreign military base on American soil.
But the facility being built at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho is not a separate base at all – it is a group of buildings that will be built to handle the training and maintenance of Qatari troops – and the agreement with Qatar has been in the works for years.
“We expect it to be squadron operations and hangars for the F-15QA, because that’s the Qatari version of the jet that they purchased through foreign military sales,” an Air Force spokesperson said. Ann Stefanek Said. “It’s definitely still a U.S. Air Force base.”
In fact, on-site training agreements with affiliates are common in the US. The 428th Fighter Squadron Buccaneers of the Republic of Singapore have been hosted at the base since 2008. German forces have trained at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico for decades. New facilities to train international F-35 fighter pilots were completed last year at Ebbing Air Force Base, Arkansas.
Here’s what you need to know about international training agreements and Mountain Home Air Force Base.
Where is Mountain Home Air Force Base?
The base is about 50 miles (80.47 kilometers) southeast of Boise, the state capital and primary population center. It is located on a high desert tundra plateau located between two mountain ranges. The location is ideal for training fighter pilots as there is plenty of space to practice maneuvers around the base.
The base is just outside the town of Mountain Home, where about 17,000 people live. Stefanek said the new facilities will be built by local construction crews, and local workers will be employed at the base to support training operations. The construction and other related expenses will be funded by Qatar.
Security at the base will continue to be handled by U.S. Air Force personnel, he said, and anyone visiting the base will still have to show proper credentials to enter.
What is the mission of Aadhaar?
The base – nicknamed the “Gunfighter” Base – houses the 366th Fighter Wing and more than 50 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. According to its website, its purpose is to “provide mission-ready gunfighters to conduct military operations anytime, anywhere.”
Three fighter squadrons are based there: the 389th Fighter Squadron Thunderbolts, the 391st Fighter Squadron Tigers, and Singapore’s 428th Fighter Squadron Buccaneers. An Air Control Squadron and Air National Guard Squadron are also located at the base.
All told, the fighter wing consists of about 5,100 military and civilian members, as well as 3,500 family members, according to the website.
When was the Qatar Agreement conceived?
Stefanek said Qatar decided to purchase F-15QA aircraft from a U.S. government program called Foreign Military Sales in 2017, and discussions began soon after to train Qatari troops in the use of the jet.
Work on an environmental assessment to determine the potential impact on the area surrounding Mountain Home Air Force Base began around 2020 and the assessment was completed in 2022.
Why are some people angry with the announcement?
Right-wing influential Laura Loomer – a close Trump ally – called the plan “disgusting.”
“No foreign country should have a military base on American soil. Especially Islamic countries,” Loomer wrote in a social media post after Hegseth’s announcement.
Similar training agreements have faced criticism in the past. In 2019, a Saudi Air Force officer training at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, killed three US service members and injured several others in a mass shooting. Following the investigation, the US sent 21 Saudi military students home after investigators said they had expressed jihadist or anti-American sentiments on social media or had “contact with child pornography” online.
Others suggested that the training facility was inspired by Qatar’s gift of a $400 million jumbo jet to Trump to use as Air Force One, although the training agreement likely preceded this gift.
What does America get from agreements to host foreign troops?
The US sells defense equipment and services to other countries as a foreign policy tool. A federal law called the Arms Export Control Act details when sales can take place. But generally speaking, it occurs when the President determines that doing so will promote the security of the United States or promote peace around the world.
U.S. forces often work closely with other allies or friendly nations on deployment, so well-trained allies can help keep U.S. troops safe.
“This partnership will provide advanced training opportunities and enhance joint operational readiness for both of our nations,” Stefanek said.