The United States of America has agreed to extend its military presence at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar for another 10 years, Reuters reports.
Al Udeid Air Base is located in the desert southwest of Doha and is the largest American military facility in the Middle East. It can accommodate more than 10 thousand military personnel.
Qatar is the main non-NATO ally of the United States. The country also plays a key role in mediating talks with Hamas and Israeli officials over the war in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages.
At the same time, some in the US Congress criticize Qatar for the presence of Hamas representatives in the country. On October 16, 2023, a bipartisan group of 113 US lawmakers sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to put pressure on countries that support Hamas, including Qatar.
