The US and Qatar signed a series of bilateral agreements on Tuesday worth $1.2 trillion in total economic value, including over $243.5 billion in new deals across defence, aviation, energy, and emerging technologies.
The package includes a $96 billion order by Qatar Airways for up to 210 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines. Boeing said it was the largest widebody order in its history and the largest ever for the 787 program. The agreement is expected to support approximately 154,000 US jobs annually over the production lifecycle.
Raytheon, part of RTX, secured a $1 billion contract to deliver its Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS) to Qatar, making the Gulf state the first international customer for the counter-drone platform. General Atomics signed a separate $2 billion agreement to sell MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems to the Qatari military.
The US and Qatar also signed a $38 billion statement of intent to expand defence cooperation, including shared investments at Al Udeid Air Base and future air and maritime security platforms. Qatar currently has $26 billion in active Foreign Military Sales agreements with the United States, ranking 12th among all US defence partners.
In energy and infrastructure, McDermott will continue to work on seven projects with QatarEnergy valued at $8.5 billion, including offshore components for LNG capacity expansion. Parsons reported securing 30 Qatari infrastructure contracts worth up to $97 billion.
In quantum computing, US firm Quantinuum formed a joint venture with Al Rabban Capital, with Qatar committing up to $1 billion to develop quantum technologies and workforce capabilities.
Qatar has also expanded its direct US investments, which reached $3.3 billion in 2023 across sectors including hospitality, IT, financial services, and oil and gas. Notable prior investments include QatarEnergy’s $18 billion Golden Pass LNG with ExxonMobil and the Golden Triangle Polymers Plant with Chevron Phillips.
U.S.-Qatar trade totalled $5.64 billion in 2024, with the US running a $2 billion surplus. The agreements signed this week are expected to further widen that gap through aircraft exports, defence systems, and energy infrastructure.
The visit and signings come as Qatar advances its Vision 2030 strategy and strengthens trade ties with major economies. The Biden administration has stated that the agreements align with US industrial and national security goals, including increasing manufacturing, bolstering defence supply chains, and expanding access to energy markets.
Qatar remains a major non-NATO ally and hosts the largest US military presence in the Middle East. The country’s mediation role in regional diplomacy and its participation in U.S.-led evacuations from Afghanistan have reinforced bilateral relations in recent years.
US companies operating in Qatar now number over 800, including more than 120 that are fully American-owned. New public-private partnerships announced alongside the investment deals aim to expand cooperation in infrastructure, green energy, digital transformation, and industrial development.
