Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The US has announced deals totaling more than $243.5 billion with Qatar, calling the series of agreements with the Gulf Arab country will generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion. US President Donald Trump on May 14 landed in Doha, Qatar, on the second day of his Middle East tour after his visit in Saudi Arabia. The White House said in a press statement that Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a $96 billion agreement to sell Qatar Airways up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines. The White House noted it is “Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order”.
“The landmark deals celebrated today will drive innovation and prosperity for generations, bolster American manufacturing and technological leadership, and put America on the path to a new Golden Age,” the White House said.
Trump has focused much of his energy on the trip in securing investment dollars, while praising Gulf states for seeking a deeper partnership with the US, Xinhua news agency reported.
American multinational technology-focused defence, intelligence, and infrastructure engineering firm Parson won 30 projects worth up to $97 billion in Qatar, while energy services company McDermott secured seven active projects worth $8.5 billion. Quantinuum finalised a joint venture agreement with Al Rabban Capital, a prominent Qatari company, to invest up to $1 billion in state-of-the-art quantum technologies and workforce development in the US, according to the press statement.
The US and Qatar also signed a series of defence cooperation agreements, including a $1 billion agreement with Raytheon for Qatar’s acquisition of counter-drone capabilities and a nearly $2-billion agreement with General Atomics for Qatar’s acquisition of the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system.
In addition, the two countries signed a statement of intent to further strengthen their security partnership, outlining more than $38 billion in potential investments including support for burden-sharing at Al Udeid Air Base and future defence capabilities related to air defence and maritime security.