Donald Trump Signs Historic U.S.-Qatar Economic Agreement Worth $243.5 Billion

US President Donald J. Trump, on the second stop of his influential Middle East tour, signed a monumental economic agreement with Qatar on Wednesday aimed at generating a minimum of $1.2 trillion in economic exchanges.

As part of this visit, US President Donald J. Trump announced $243.5 billion in commercial deals between the United States and Qatar, prominently featuring a historic aircraft sale involving Boeing and GE Aerospace.

Major Deal Signed: $200 Billion Boeing Aircraft Order

Qatar Airways Makes Landmark Jet Purchase

The highlight of the agreements is Qatar Airways’ $200 billion purchase of 160 Boeing jets, a deal signed in Doha in the presence of President Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

In a record-breaking transaction, Boeing and GE Aerospace secured an order that includes a $96 billion agreement for up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft. These planes will be powered by GE Aerospace engines, marking the largest-ever widebody and 787 order in Boeing’s history. This deal is expected to support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, adding up to over one million jobs throughout the production and delivery phase.

Strategic Deals in Energy, Defense & Technology

Expanding US-Qatar Collaboration Beyond Aviation

Energy Sector

McDermott continues to strengthen its strategic relationship with Qatar Energy, managing seven major offshore LNG projects valued at $8.5 billion.

Engineering & Technology

Parsons Engineering has secured 30 ongoing projects worth up to $97 billion. Meanwhile, Quantinuum has signed a joint venture with Al Rabban Capital, which includes a $1 billion Qatari investment in quantum technologies.

Major Defense Contracts Signed

U.S. Technology Powers Qatar’s Security Upgrades

Raytheon confirmed a $1 billion agreement with Qatar for counter-drone defense systems, marking the country as the first international customer of its Fixed Site – Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System.

General Atomics also landed a nearly $2 billion contract to supply MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems.

Additionally, both nations signed a statement of intent outlining $38 billion in potential defense investments, which includes upgrades at Al Udeid Air Base and future collaborative military capabilities.

Qatar’s Growing Investment in U.S. Energy

Natural Gas Superpower Backing U.S. Infrastructure

Qatar, with the world’s third-largest proven natural gas reserves, continues to back American energy growth. Since 2019, QatarEnergy has invested $18 billion in the U.S., notably in:

• ExxonMobil’s Golden Pass LNG Terminal – $10 billion

• Chevron Phillips Chemical’s Golden Triangle Polymers Plant – $8 billion

Both facilities are located along the Texas Gulf Coast, strengthening U.S. energy infrastructure and job creation.

Positive Bilateral Trade Trends

Qatar and U.S. Maintain Strong Economic Partnership

The United States recorded a $2 billion trade surplus with Qatar in 2024, continuing a positive trend since 2003. In 2023:

• Total U.S.-Qatar trade reached $5.64 billion

  • U.S. exports: $3.8 billion

  • Qatari imports: $1.8 billion

• Qatar’s greenfield investments in the U.S. totaled $3.3 billion, spanning:

  • Hotels & Tourism

  • Advanced Manufacturing

  • IT & Financial Services

  • Oil & Gas

Context: Trump’s Middle East Tour and Job Strategy

Deal Builds on $600 Billion Saudi Arabia Commitment

This agreement builds upon the $600 billion in investments that Trump secured in Saudi Arabia, the first stop in his Gulf tour. These strategic partnerships align with Trump’s efforts to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and create high-paying jobs domestically.

Conclusion: Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Economic Growth

President Trump's high-profile visit to Qatar marks a significant milestone in U.S.-Qatar relations, underscoring mutual interests in defense, aviation, energy, and technology. The $243.5 billion in deals not only reflects Qatar’s trust in American innovation and infrastructure but also supports Trump’s broader vision of revitalizing U.S. industry and job creation.

With Boeing securing its largest widebody order ever and major investments flowing into defense and quantum technologies, the visit lays a solid foundation for long-term strategic cooperation between the two nations. As both countries deepen their economic and security ties, this partnership is set to play a pivotal role in shaping regional stability and global innovation.