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Qatar – United States relations are bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the United States. Qatar and the United States are strategic allies.
Contents
History
Bilateral relations between the two countries have expanded in since the opening of the U.S. embassy in Doha in March 1973. The first resident U.S. ambassador arrived in July 1974. Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on Middle Eastern regional diplomatic initiatives to increase security in the Persian Gulf. The two countries also have extensive economic links, especially in the hydrocarbons sector. Qatar has also developed international educational institutions in the region to cater to the Middle Eastern market. Qatar also hosts an American military facility.
Educational ties
Hundreds of Qatari students study in the United States. Six U.S. universities have branch campuses in Qatar's Education City complex. There are Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ), Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar), and Northwestern University in 2008.
Diplomatic visits
Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani last visited Washington on 24 February 2015, and President George W. Bush visited Qatar in 2003 where he spoke to troops stationed there. Donald Rumsfeld, the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006, also visited Qatar in 2002. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Qatar in February, 2010, and Secretary John Kerry traveled to Qatar in March, 2013.
Residential staff
Principal U.S. officials include:
The U.S. maintains an embassy in Doha, Qatar.
Military
Beginning in 1992, Qatar has built intimate military ties with the United States, and is now the location of U.S. Central Command’s Forward Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center.
As of 2015, the following American bases currently exist:
In 2003, the US military base Doha International Air Base (also known as Camp Snoopy) was closed.
2014 deal
In 2014, the United States sold $11 billion worth of arms to Qatar, including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Patriot and Javelin defense systems. Qatar also announced that it would invest in NH90 helicopters from NH Industries for $2.76 billion.