The White House announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump signed deals worth over $243.5 billion with Qatar as part of his tour through the Middle East. These agreements, described as “historic,” lay the groundwork for a future economic partnership that could exceed $1.2 trillion with the small but strategic Gulf nation.
“The agreements signed today will drive innovation and prosperity for generations, strengthen American leadership in manufacturing and technology, and set the country on the path to a new Golden Age,” the official statement read.
The announcement came during the second stop of the president’s regional tour, just a day after he unveiled around $600 billion in Saudi investments in key sectors of the U.S. economy. Trump has focused much of his energy on attracting foreign investment during this trip, praising Gulf nations for their willingness to deepen ties with Washington.
Still, the tangible results so far fall short of Trump’s ambitious goals. The president had initially aimed to secure $1 trillion in investment commitments from Saudi companies alone.
Among the standout deals is Qatar Airways’ purchase of up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft, valued at approximately $96 billion. The White House described it as the largest wide-body aircraft order in history and the biggest ever for the 787 model.
Defense remains a critical pillar of the U.S.-Qatar relationship. The two governments signed a $1 billion contract for Raytheon—one of the top U.S. defense contractors—to provide counter-drone capabilities. The deal makes Qatar the first international customer of Raytheon’s FSS-LIDS system, designed to combat small, slow unmanned aerial vehicles.
General Atomics also reached a nearly $2 billion deal to supply Qatar with MQ-9B drones, according to the White House. Additionally, both nations signed a declaration of intent to enhance security cooperation, involving investments exceeding $28 billion.
Despite its small size, Qatar plays a growing role in U.S. security strategy and Trump’s broader efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Its importance has also grown in the eyes of Trump and his business allies. The Trump Organization recently signed a contract to develop a golf course, clubhouse, and villas along the Qatari coast.
Qatar is home to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the region. This key U.S. Central Command logistics hub will continue to host American troops for at least another decade under an agreement reached last year. In 2022, former President Joe Biden designated Qatar a “major non-NATO ally.”
The White House also highlighted an $8.5 billion joint venture between McDermott International Ltd. and Qatar Energy, as well as up to 30 projects valued at $97 billion with Parsons Corp. Another notable deal involves a partnership between Quantinuum and Al Rabban Capital, which plans to invest up to $1 billion in quantum technologies and talent development in the U.S.
Like other Gulf nations visited by Trump, Qatar seeks to strengthen its ties with the United States through direct investment. On Thursday, the U.S. president is scheduled to continue his tour with a visit to Abu Dhabi.
