The United States has given initial approval for Qatar to purchase eight armed MQ-9B Predator drones for its military, in a deal valued at nearly $2 billion. This approval follows Qatar’s repeated attempts to acquire the drones during the Biden administration, which had previously not granted the request, despite Qatar’s role as a mediator for the U.S. with the Taliban, Iran, and Hamas. The approval under President Donald Trump marks a significant shift in U.S.-Qatar relations, especially after Trump had initially supported a boycott of Qatar during his first term.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated that this sale would align with U.S. foreign policy and national security goals by enhancing the security of a key ally in the Middle East, which plays an important role in the region’s political stability and economic progress.
Qatar’s government did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment on Thursday. Qatar is the second-largest buyer of U.S. military equipment, following Saudi Arabia, with over $26 billion spent on items such as F-15 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, missile defense systems, and other military equipment.
The proposed sale is now set to go before the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers typically review such sales and can block them if they choose to do so.
As part of the deal, Qatar would acquire eight MQ-9B Predator drones, along with hundreds of bombs and missiles to arm them, as well as the satellite equipment needed for remote operation.
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers, which cost around $30 million each, can fly at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet (12,100 meters) and remain airborne for over 30 hours before needing to land. These drones have been used by both the U.S. military and the CIA for years in operations across the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and currently Yemen as part of the American bombing campaign. The drone has versions designed for both land and sea operations.
Qatar’s initial approval comes after the United Arab Emirates has been waiting since 2020 to secure a deal for up to 18 MQ-9 drones as part of a larger $23 billion agreement, which also includes advanced F-35 fighter jets. Trump had a particularly close relationship with the UAE, which reached a historic diplomatic agreement with Israel under his administration in 2020.