|
 "Today's signing ceremony underscores the strong partnership
between the United States and Qatar in the area of security and
defense and will help improve our bilateral cooperation across a
range of military operations," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John
Kirby said in a statement.
The agreement was signed at the Pentagon by U.S. Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel and Qatar's defense minister, Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah.
It was the biggest U.S. arms sale so far this year, according to
media reports.
 Hagel visited Qatar in December when he and al-Attiyah signed a
10-year Defense Cooperation Agreement to govern interaction between
U.S. and Qatari forces and enable the continued assignment of
American troops to installations in the area, including the Combined
Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base.
"This is a critically important relationship in the region," said
Kirby. "And the secretary is pleased to be able to continue to make
it stronger."
[to top of second column] |
Qatar is holding for a year five Taliban prisoners released from the
U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in exchange for U.S.
Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held captive in Afghanistan.
(Reporting by Peter Cooney; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
