The United States maintains a major military presence at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar because it is a strategic hub for U.S. operations across the Middle East. The base serves as the headquarters for U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) air operations, supporting missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and the broader region147. The U.S. moved its main air operations center to Al Udeid in 2003, partly because Qatar was seen as a more politically stable and accommodating host compared to Saudi Arabia, where the presence of large numbers of American troops had become increasingly controversial14. Qatar has invested billions of dollars to build and expand the base, making it the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, capable of hosting over 10,000 American personnel47. The U.S. and Qatar recently extended their agreement for the base for another decade, underscoring the base's ongoing strategic importance47.
Qatar is the largest foreign donor to American universities, with contributions totaling at least $4.7 billion from 2001 to 20212. Some estimates suggest the actual figure could be higher, as many donations were not properly disclosed as required by U.S. law25. The funding often flows through state-owned entities like the Qatar Foundation, and is used to support branch campuses of major U.S. universities in Qatar (such as Texas A&M, Northwestern, and Cornell), as well as scholarships, research projects, and hospital collaborations25. For example, Texas A&M received over $1 billion for its Qatar campus, and Cornell University received nearly $2 billion from Qatari institutions5. These financial relationships raise concerns about transparency, influence, and potential access to sensitive research or student data5.
Qatar has been repeatedly accused by its neighbors and Western officials of supporting or tolerating terror financing, particularly for groups like Hamas, Al Nusra Front (Al Qaeda's branch in Syria), and the Muslim Brotherhood36. Evidence includes coordination between Qatari officials and terrorist groups, direct financial assistance, and a permissive environment for private terror financiers to operate within Qatar36. U.S. officials have long criticized Qatar's lax counterterrorism policies and failure to aggressively crack down on terror financing6.
Despite these concerns, the U.S. continues to maintain close ties with Qatar for several reasons:
Strategic Military Value: The Al Udeid Air Base is critical for U.S. military operations in the region, and relocating it would be costly, disruptive, and politically difficult47.
Diplomatic Leverage: Qatar has played a key role as a mediator in hostage negotiations and regional diplomacy, including the release of American citizens from conflict zones4.
Balancing Regional Power: The U.S. seeks to maintain influence with all Gulf states, balancing relationships with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, despite their rivalries and differing policies6.
Economic and Educational Ties: Extensive investments in U.S. universities and business ventures create additional interdependence25.
In essence, the U.S. tolerates Qatar's problematic policies because the strategic, military, and diplomatic benefits are judged—at least by successive administrations—to outweigh the risks and reputational costs. However, this relationship remains contentious and subject to ongoing debate within U.S. policy circles6.