US officials say they are working to expand their defense relationship with Qatar, a partnership that is already rooted in decades of US military aid and training.

On a recent visit to Qatar, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised the strong defense ties between the United States and Qatar and called for further strengthening them in the future.

Austin called Qatar a critical regional partner and said US support for that partnership remains unwavering.

"I especially wanted to be here today to share that Qatar and the United States will formally take steps forward to expand and reinforce our bilateral defense relationship," Austin said after a meeting with Qatari leaders in December, according to a Pentagon statement.

"We'll do this through Qatar's commitment to contribute significant resources to increase capabilities here at Al-Udeid air base, and that will support both of our forces for years to come."

Al-Udeid air base in Qatar is the largest US military base in the Middle East. It hosts US Central Command's forward headquarters, the US Air Force Central Command and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the US Air Force.

The presence of US troops at the base "allows the United States to support a range of critical missions in the region and respond to challenges to our shared security," said Austin.

Qatar is also committed to hosting the US military at Al-Sayliyah Army Base outside Doha, which is used for equipment bound for use in Iraq.

In recent years, the number of US military personnel who are deployed at the various facilities in Qatar has ranged from about 8,000 to more than 10,000.

A longstanding partnership

The United States has a longstanding partnership with Qatar, dating back to the first years of the nation. The United States established diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1972, a year after its independence from the United Kingdom.

During the Gulf War, Qatar played a supportive role by hosting coalition forces, including US military personnel and aircraft involved in the liberation of Kuwait.

Qatar is a critical strategic defense partner for the United States, according to the US State Department.

The two countries further solidified their military relationship when they re-signed and renewed their 10-year defense cooperation agreement in 2013.

Qatar and the United States also signed a memorandum of understanding in 2017 on combating the financing of terrorism. Under that agreement, the two countries collaborate on military and intelligence and the US Treasury Department works closely with the Qatari government to help monitor suspected terror financing.

In 2022, the United States designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, qualifying it to purchase certain US arms, receive excess defense articles, and engage in defense research cooperation with the United States.

The US Department of Defense also led two working groups with Gulf Cooperation Council member states, including Qatar, in February 2023 -- with one on air and missile defense and another on maritime security.

The United States has been steadfast in offering training for Qatar's military -- including on military operations, intelligence and joint operational planning.

Joint military training exercises strengthen the interoperability and capabilities of both armed forces. This cooperation helps enhance Qatar's military readiness and fosters a closer military relationship between the two countries.

For example, US and Qatari troops conducted an airborne insertion exercise in Doha last September, to practice skills and strengthen partnerships.

And last summer, US soldiers and the Qatar Emiri Special Forces trained together during Qatar's annual Al-Adheed exercise, demonstrating the interoperability of the two forces.

"The biggest thing, across the board, was that it's a partnership. This training is about enabling that partnership to continue," said California National Guard Capt. Ismael Rivera last June.

Weapon sales

The United States has been a major supplier of military equipment and technology to Qatar over the years.

Qatar has bought advanced weapon systems, aircraft and other defense-related technology, contributing to the modernization of the Qatari armed forces.

"Qatar has over $26 billion in active government-to-government cases under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system making Qatar the United States' third largest FMS partner in the world," the US State Department reported in 2021.

Recent and significant FMS have focused on integrated air and missile defense and include the Patriot long-range air missile system, the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System and the AN/FPS-132 Early Warning Radar.

Qatar has also inked deals for F-15QA fighter aircraft and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.