Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah laying the foundation stone for the expansion project of Al Udeid Air Base with the participation of Brig. Gen. Jason Armagost, commander of the air exped
DOHA: Qatar’s Ministry of Defence broke ground on new barracks for US and Coalition airmen stationed at Al Udeid Air Base (AUAB), part of a multi-billion dollar expansion project for the base, located in Qatar.
The new barracks will provide greater comfort and amenities for US and coalition airmen rotating through AUAB while they are doing the vital day-to-day work supporting and executing operations to combat Daish (ISIS) and promote peace and stability throughout the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah presided over the ground-breaking ceremony. Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy to Qatar Ryan M Gliha represented the United States in addition to Brigadier General Jason R Armagost, Commander of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing stationed at Al Udeid Air Base.
Qatar and the United States have long been strategic partners, as evidenced by Qatar’s continued contributions to regional security and counterterrorism efforts through Al Udeid Air Base, which currently hosts approximately 10,000 US and Coalition members.
Modern, state-of-the-art facilities where Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines live, work, and transit are critical to supporting the mission.
Since 2002, Qatar has contributed over $8bn dollars to support US and Coalition operations and facilities at Al-Udeid. At the inaugural United States – Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC in January 2018, Qatar offered to expand critical facilities at the US bases in Qatar. The ground breaking today is a concrete demonstration of Qatar’s commitment to its US and collation partners and another milestone in the US-Qatar relationship.
