A F-15 fighter jet. Photo: US Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers.

JNS.org – Qatar’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday the signing of a deal with the United States to buy 36 F-15 fighter jets for $12 billion.

The deal was agreed to in spite of US President Donald Trump’s recent censuring of Qatar for being a “high-level” sponsor of terrorism. The sale also occurs against the backdrop of a dispute between Doha and its Gulf neighbors concerning Qatar’s direct support for terrorism.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Qatari representatives met on Wednesday to finalize the weapons deal, reported Reuters. According to Bloomberg News, the deal was signed for 36 of the F-15 fighter planes.

The Pentagon issued a statement Wednesday, saying the deal will bolster security cooperation between the US and Qatar.

In November, the US approved the potential sale of up to 72 F-15QA planes to Qatar for $21.1 billion, with the American defense firm Boeing serving as the primary contractor. Boeing is also finalizing a deal to sell 60 aircraft to Iran’s Aseman Airlines.