WASHINGTON: Qatar’s supply to donate a luxurious jet to america was not a private present to President Donald Trump however a “government-to-government transaction”, the Gulf nation’s prime minister stated Wednesday (Could 14).
Trump, whose Center East journey included a cease Wednesday in Qatar, has confronted an uproar again at residence since press stories revealed he was contemplating utilizing the jet as Air Power One – and would doubtlessly proceed to make use of it after leaving workplace.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani downplayed these considerations, telling CNN in an interview he didn’t know why it had change into such huge information.
“It’s a government-to-government transaction. It has nothing to do with personnel, whether or not it is on the US facet or on the Qatari facet, it is the Ministry of Protection and Division of Protection,” he stated, echoing the White House’s reaction to the backlash.
He additionally dismissed allegations that Qatar was utilizing the present as a means of influencing Trump, saying it moderately making an attempt to assist remedy its US ally’s issues.
“Qatar has been all the time a dependable companion for the US, has been all the time stepping as much as assist and assist the US, as a result of we consider that this friendship must be mutually helpful for each international locations, can’t be a one-way relationship,” Sheikh Mohammed stated.
He added that in any case, the supply was “nonetheless beneath authorized evaluate”.
Trump has repeatedly complained of delays and price overruns in aerospace big Boeing’s contract to offer two new Air Power One jets to exchange the present ageing fashions.
Underneath questioning from reporters on Monday, Trump angrily defended the association with Qatar, saying he would be “stupid” not to accept such a gift.
However the plan has raised main moral questions, because the US Structure prohibits authorities officers from accepting presents “from any King, Prince or overseas state”.
It has additionally raised deep safety considerations about utilizing a airplane donated by a overseas energy to be used because the ultra-sensitive Air Power One. The jet is designed to function a cell command centre for the president in case of an assault on America.
