Qatar’s prime minister on Tuesday defended the country’s offer of a luxury Boeing jet to U.S. President Donald Trump, amid scrutiny in Washington over whether the gift could be seen as an attempt to exert political influence.
Qatar dismissed concerns on Tuesday that its offer of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft to President Donald Trump was an effort to buy influence, calling it a routine gesture between allies. The comments came one day after U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation that would prevent any foreign aircraft from operating as Air Force One.
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described the offer as “a normal thing that happens between allies,” and emphasized Qatar’s long-standing relationship with the United States.
“I don’t know why people consider this bribery,” Al Thani said. “We’ve always been a reliable partner to the U.S., and we hope that politicians there see us as such.”
The gift—reportedly a $400 million Boeing 747-8 retrofitted to luxury specifications—has drawn criticism from both lawmakers and ethics experts. Legal scholars have raised questions about whether the gift could violate U.S. laws governing foreign gifts to officials, designed to prevent corruption and undue influence.
Trump, however, downplayed ethical concerns. “It would be stupid to turn down such a generous offer,” he said. The former president added that the aircraft, once modified for security, would be donated to his presidential library and not used for personal purposes after leaving office.
Former Vice President Mike Pence also weighed in, calling the situation “a bad idea” and citing “profound issues” with the optics and implications of accepting such a gift from a foreign government.
The plane, if accepted, would require extensive modifications to meet U.S. security standards, including advanced communications systems and defensive technologies.
Qatar has not commented on whether the plane was intended for use as Air Force One or for any official role. The proposed U.S. legislation, titled the Presidential Airlift Security Act, aims to ensure that aircraft used for presidential transport are owned, operated, and secured by the U.S. government.
The controversy comes as Qatar continues to position itself as a key diplomatic and economic partner to the U.S. in the Gulf region.
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A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than a foot of snow across several states and severely disrupting transport and daily life.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
Four members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces were killed on Monday in an attack by the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group targeting a checkpoint west of Raqqa in northeastern Syria, the Interior Ministry said.
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region’s economic potential and the growing strain on infrastructure, trade routes and long-term development models.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals connected to Moscow’s military and energy sectors, according to official decrees issued on Saturday.
The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday.
Chinese travellers made an estimated 362.58 million cross-regional passenger trips on Monday, the final day of the Spring Festival holiday, according to official data.
Thousands of people gathered across Europe and beyond over the weekend in solidarity with Ukraine, as the war with Russia entered its fifth year.
A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than a foot of snow across several states and severely disrupting transport and daily life.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
The former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson has been arrested by police in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
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