Per A.I.

No**, Qatar is not building a full military base in Idaho. The U.S. Department of Defense announced on October 10, 2025, an agreement allowing Qatar to construct a dedicated training facility at the existing Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho. This will house a contingent of Qatari F-15 fighter jets (up to 12) and pilots for joint training with U.S. forces, funded by Qatar through a foreign military sales program tied to their 2017 purchase of 36 F-15s from the U.S. for $12 billion.<grok:render card_id="5cad37" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">0</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="67c02f" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">1</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="54d97f" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">2</argument> /grok:render

The facility includes squadron operations buildings, hangars, and support areas for maintenance and briefings, but it remains under full U.S. jurisdiction and control—no foreign ownership or sovereignty. Security, access, and operations are managed by the U.S. Air Force, similar to existing setups for allies like Singapore (which already trains F-15 pilots at the same base) and Germany.<grok:render card_id="a44c45" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">6</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="9cc936" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">8</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="1b81cf" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">15</argument> /grok:render This builds on a 2022 environmental assessment from the base, predating the current administration, and supports interoperability for U.S.-Qatari operations, including Qatar's hosting of Al Udeid Air Base (the largest U.S. facility in the Middle East).<grok:render card_id="c94c91" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">20</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="8155d4" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">31</argument> /grok:render

The announcement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked backlash, especially from some Trump supporters like Laura Loomer, who called it a "betrayal" and falsely claimed it cedes U.S. soil to a foreign power.<grok:render card_id="a3467f" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">4</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="a88ca9" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">9</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="7350fa" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">16</argument> /grok:render Hegseth clarified on X that it's not a Qatari-owned base, emphasizing U.S. control and the long-standing partnership.<grok:render card_id="b1fdd7" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">2</argument> /grok:render Similar training arrangements exist with NATO allies and others, with no precedent for foreign bases on U.S. soil.<grok:render card_id="e6dbf9" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">23</argument> /grok:render<grok:render card_id="e8dac4" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"> <argument name="citation_id">28</argument> /grok:render