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Qatar's defense expenditures are estimated to be in the range of 10% of GDP. Qatar maintains a military force of about 12,000 men, including an army, navy, and air force. The country has a public security force of about 8,000 men, including a coast guard, national firefighting force, air wing, marine police, and an internal security force. Qatar also has signed defense pacts with the U.S., U.K., and France. Qatar plays an active role in the collective defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC—the regional organization of the Arab states in the Gulf; the other five members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the U.A.E., and Oman). Qatari forces played an important role in the first Gulf War, and Qatar has supported U.S. military operations critical to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.   

Qatar's defense expenditures are estimated to be in the range of 10% of GDP. Qatar maintains a military force of about 12,000 men, including an army, navy, and air force. The country has a public security force of about 8,000 men, including a coast guard, national firefighting force, air wing, marine police, and an internal security force. Qatar also has signed defense pacts with the U.S., U.K., and France. Qatar plays an active role in the collective defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC—the regional organization of the Arab states in the Gulf; the other five members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the U.A.E., and Oman). Qatari forces played an important role in the first Gulf War, and Qatar has supported U.S. military operations critical to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.   

{{Anchor|Al Udeid}}

===Al Udeid Air Base===

Qatar hosts CENTCOM Forward Headquarters. Al Udeid Air Base and U.S. Central Command ([[CENTCOM]]) headquarters, one of America's largest Air Force bases which Qatar built at the cost of $2 billion, remains a critical asset to operations in the [[Middle East]].<ref>Michael R. Gordon With Eric Schmitt, [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/28/world/aftereffects-bases-us-will-move-air-operations-to-qatar-base.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 AFTEREFFECTS: BASES; U.S. Will Move Air Operations To Qatar Base], ''The New York Times'', April 28, 2003</ref> The AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) was had a detection range of up to 5,000 km for launches was destroyed shortly after the assassination of [[Iranian]] Supreme Leader [[Ali Khomeini]] on February 28, 2025.

Qatar hosts CENTCOM Forward Headquarters. Al Udeid Air Base and U.S. Central Command ([[CENTCOM]]) headquarters, one of America's largest Air Force bases which Qatar built at the cost of $2 billion, remains a critical asset to operations in the [[Middle East]].<ref>Michael R. Gordon With Eric Schmitt, [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/28/world/aftereffects-bases-us-will-move-air-operations-to-qatar-base.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 AFTEREFFECTS: BASES; U.S. Will Move Air Operations To Qatar Base], ''The New York Times'', April 28, 2003</ref> The AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) was had a detection range of up to 5,000 km for launches was destroyed shortly after the assassination of [[Iranian]] Supreme Leader [[Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]] on February 28, 2025.

==Economy==

==Economy==