Donald Trump's first look at Qatar: Air Force One gets escort from key ally in the skies

F-15s accompany presidential jet before US President visits Al Udeid air base

Qatari F-15 jets provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it arrived in Doha on Wednesday. AP

Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip

Donald Trump flew into Qatar on Wednesday flanked by F-15 warplanes, underscoring a key military alliance between the US and the Gulf state.

The American-made fighter jets provided an honorary escort to Air Force One as the presidential jet reached Doha. “What a view,” said Trump aide Margo Martin, who shared footage of the plane arriving in Qatar.

Mr Trump is due to visit a joint airbase, Al Udeid, as part of his visit. Tucked away in the desert south-west of Doha, Al Udeid has evolved into one of the most vital US military hubs in the world.

With more than $8 billion invested by Qatar since 2003, the airbase now hosts a cluster of US and coalition command structures and aircraft.

Air Force One arrived in Doha on Wednesday on the second leg of Mr Trump's Gulf tour. AP

Personnel and aircraft

Al Udeid Air Base, about 30km south-west of Doha, covers 12.3 square kilometres.

It features two runways, each 3,750 metres in length, capable of accommodating every aircraft in the US arsenal, from B-52 bombers to C-17 transport planes.

The base hosts more than 10,000 US military personnel, making it the largest American military installation in the Middle East.

The base features two runways, each 3,750 metres in length. US Air Force

It supports a diverse fleet of more than 90 combat and support aircraft, including B-52 Stratofortress bombers, KC-135 refuelling tankers, C-17 Globemasters and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

Its infrastructure includes advanced command-and-control centres, aircraft maintenance and accommodation to support sustained, high-tempo operations across several domains.

Nerve centre

Al Udeid is home to the forward headquarters of US Central Command, US Air Force Central Command and US Special Operations Central Command. It also houses the Combined Air Operations Centre, which co-ordinates all American and allied air activity across the region, from Iraq and Syria to the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

This concentration of command infrastructure makes it one of the most strategically important US bases worldwide, enabling real-time control of missions spanning dozens of countries.

Since 2003, Qatar has contributed more than $8 billion to build and expand Al Udeid. These upgrades have transformed it from a temporary desert outpost into a permanent strategic asset.

Legacy from Afghanistan to Iraq

Al Udeid’s operational legacy began with Operation Enduring Freedom after the 9/11 attacks, when it served as a critical launch pad for air strikes and intelligence missions over Afghanistan.

Two years later, during the US-led invasion of Iraq, the US moved its Combined Air Operations Centre from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia to Al Udeid.

In August 2021, when US forces started evacuating civilians from Kabul, Al Udeid once again became indispensable. It was the main logistical and operational base during the largest evacuation in US military history.

Whether conducting surveillance missions over Syria or co-ordinating air cover in Iraq, nearly every significant US military operation in the region over the past two decades has relied on this base.

Al Udeid Air Base spans an area of about 12.3 square kilometres. AFP

The US military at Al Udeid orchestrates the air campaign against ISIS, with its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance divisions playing a central role in identifying targets.

Looking to the future

In 2020, Al Udeid became the first base in the Middle East to host deployed personnel from the newly formed US Space Force.

This marked an expansion of the base’s role from traditional air operations into emerging domains such as space and cyber warfare.

As military strategy increasingly shifts towards space-based surveillance, satellite co-ordination and secure digital communications, Al Udeid is expected to play a growing role in that domain.

Top defence partner

Beyond its hosting of Al Udeid, Qatar is the second-largest partner globally under the US Foreign Military Sales programme, with more than $26 billion in active agreements.

Major purchases include F-15QA fighter jets (the most advanced F-15 variant), Patriot and Nasams air defence systems, AH-64E Apache helicopters and AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar systems.

Since 2016, the US has also authorised more than $2.8 billion in direct commercial defence exports to Qatar. These include aircraft systems, special operations training and night-vision technology.

The two countries are bound by security agreements, covering intelligence-sharing, logistics and maritime co-operation.