Payment in advance for normalization: Qatar wants to acquire the F-35
Normalization or window of opportunity – Qatar is taking advantage of the commander-in-chief's influence in the White House, that is to say, the easing of conditions for Persian Gulf states, to carry out the acquisition of stealth fighters. The request has yet to be authorized by the US
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 11/10/2020
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Qatar, said to be one of the countries that could possibly normalize ties with Israel in the future, submitted an official request to acquire the F-35, according to a report by Reuters. If the report is accurate then Qatar, unlike Bahrain and the UAE, wants the payment for normalization with Israel in advance.
It is also possible that Qatar is using the commander-in-chief's influence in the White House, that is to say, the easing of conditions for Persian Gulf states, to carry out the acquisition of stealth fighters. Indeed, if the sale is authorized for Bahrain or the UAE, then the same logic could be applied regarding Qatar. Or in other words, if the US approves the sale of the F-35 to a certain Persian Gulf state, claiming that the sale does not alter the balance of power in the region, it cannot reject the sale to Qatar.
Qatar hosts the largest US military facility in the Middle East, home to 8,000 servicemembers and civilian Defense Department workers.
Normalization or window of opportunity – Qatar is taking advantage of the commander-in-chief's influence in the White House, that is to say, the easing of conditions for Persian Gulf states, to carry out the acquisition of stealth fighters. The request has yet to be authorized by the US
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Qatar, said to be one of the countries that could possibly normalize ties with Israel in the future, submitted an official request to acquire the F-35, according to a report by Reuters. If the report is accurate then Qatar, unlike Bahrain and the UAE, wants the payment for normalization with Israel in advance.
It is also possible that Qatar is using the commander-in-chief's influence in the White House, that is to say, the easing of conditions for Persian Gulf states, to carry out the acquisition of stealth fighters. Indeed, if the sale is authorized for Bahrain or the UAE, then the same logic could be applied regarding Qatar. Or in other words, if the US approves the sale of the F-35 to a certain Persian Gulf state, claiming that the sale does not alter the balance of power in the region, it cannot reject the sale to Qatar.
Qatar hosts the largest US military facility in the Middle East, home to 8,000 servicemembers and civilian Defense Department workers.
