The United States has preliminarily approved Qatar’s request to purchase eight MQ-9B Predator armed drones, a deal valued at nearly $2 billion.
The State Department’s approval, announced early Thursday, follows Doha’s prolonged efforts to secure the drones under the Biden administration, which had not authorized the sale despite Qatar’s role as a key intermediary between Washington and the Taliban in Afghanistan, Iran’s leadership, and Hamas in Gaza. However, this immediate approval under President Donald Trump signals a shift in U.S. relations with Qatar, particularly considering his prior support for a four-nation boycott of Doha during his first term.
"This proposed sale will advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the defense capabilities of a key partner that plays a vital role in political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated.
Qatar's government has yet to comment on the decision. The Gulf nation ranks as the second-largest buyer of U.S. military equipment after Saudi Arabia, having spent over $26 billion on F-15 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, missile defense systems, and other hardware.
The deal now requires congressional approval, as U.S. lawmakers typically review such transactions and have the authority to block them.
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Under the proposed agreement, Qatar would acquire eight drones equipped with hundreds of bombs and missiles, along with satellite-operated control systems.
Manufactured by General Atomics, the MQ-9 Reaper drones cost approximately $30 million each. They can operate at altitudes above 40,000 feet (12,100 meters) and remain airborne for over 30 hours. The U.S. military and CIA have extensively used these drones in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen.
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Notably, Qatar’s approval comes as the United Arab Emirates has been awaiting clearance since 2020 for a $23 billion arms deal that includes up to 18 MQ-9 drones and advanced F-35 fighter jets. Trump's administration had close ties with the UAE, which established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020.
Source: With input from agnecy