During his diplomatic tour of the Gulf, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion into upgrading Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East.
Speaking to U.S. troops stationed at the base southwest of Doha, Trump said the investment would roll out over the coming years. He also confirmed that Qatar signed $42 billion worth of defense deals on Wednesday, marking a significant expansion in U.S.-Qatar military cooperation.
The announcements came as part of Trump’s sweeping four-day trip across the region, which has already produced a series of high-value agreements. These include:
- Qatar Airways’ planned purchase of up to 210 Boeing widebody jets
- A $600 billion investment pledge from Saudi Arabia in U.S. industries
- $142 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Trump is now en route to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other officials in Abu Dhabi. The focus of the final leg of the visit is on artificial intelligence, an area in which the UAE is seeking to become a global leader.
A preliminary agreement reported by Reuters on Wednesday revealed that the U.S. has agreed to allow the UAE to import 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips annually, starting this year. The chips are expected to bolster the UAE’s growing data center infrastructure and AI development efforts.
However, the deal has sparked concerns among some U.S. national security officials, particularly around potential technology diversion to China. The terms of the agreement may still be subject to change.
In a broader geopolitical context, Trump also made headlines earlier this week by announcing the removal of longstanding U.S. sanctions on Syria, followed by a high-profile meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Trump encouraged Sharaa to pursue diplomatic normalization with Israel.
Though a side trip to Turkiye to participate in Russia-Ukraine peace talks had been floated, U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday that Trump will return directly to Washington after concluding his Gulf tour.