US, Qatar sign ‘historic’ deals worth $1.2T, says White House

WASHINGTON 

“Landmark” deals signed by Qatar during US President Donald Trump’s visit signify a “historic” economic commitment worth at least $1.2 trillion, the White House said Wednesday.

“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,” a White House statement said.

Among the deals it mentioned were a previously announced agreement with Boeing to supply Qatar Airways with 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines in what the White House said marks Boeing’s “largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order.”

The White House said the deal is worth $96 billion, and includes up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines. Trump earlier said the agreement was worth over $200 billion and included 160 aircraft.

The discrepancies were not immediately reconcilable. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The statement also pointed to an energy development agreement with American firm Parsons, and a commitment from Qatari firm Al Rabban Capital to invest $1 billion in “state-of-the-art quantum technologies and workforce development in the United States.”

On the defense side, the White House said Raytheon inked a $1 billion deal to supply Qatar with counter-drone capabilities, making Qatar “the first international customer for Raytheon’s Fixed Site – Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS) designed to counter unmanned aircraft.” General Atomics separately signed a $2 billion agreement to sell Qatar MQ-9B SkyGuardian surveillance drones.

A statement of intent signed between the US and Qatar further outlines more than $38 billion in what the White House called “potential investments including support for burden-sharing at Al Udeid Air Base and future defense capabilities related to air defense and maritime security.”

The facility, located just southwest of Doha, is the US’ largest military base in the Middle East.

“These new agreements and instruments aim to drive the growth of the U.S.-Qatar bilateral commercial relationship, create thousands of well-paying jobs, and open new trade and investment opportunities for both countries over the coming decade and beyond,” the White House said.

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