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Qatar's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday the country signed a deal to buy F-15 fighter jets from the United States for 12 billion US dollars.
The deal was completed despite the Gulf country being criticized recently by US President Donald Trump and its neighbors for supporting terrorism.
Trump has signaled his support for the Saudi-led move but other US officials have been more cautious and called for dialogue to end the crisis.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Qatari counterpart Khalid al-Attiyah signed a letter of agreement Wednesday to close the deal. Bloomberg news reported it involves 36 US-manufactured jets.
"The 12 billion US dollar sale will give Qatar a state-of-the-art capability and increase security cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Qatar," the Pentagon said in a statement.
File: A US Air Force F-15 lands after completing a regional exercise at an Air Force Base in the Arabian Gulf, March 13, 2017.
Mattis and al-Attiyah also discussed mutual security concerns, including ISIL and the importance of de-escalating tensions so all partners in the Gulf region can focus on next steps in meeting common goals.
In November, the United States approved the possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for 21.1 billion US dollars. Boeing is the prime contractor on the fighter jet sale to the Middle East nation.
Boeing declined to comment.
Trump on Friday accused Qatar of being a "high-level" sponsor of terrorism, potentially hindering the US Department of State's efforts to ease heightening tensions and a blockade of the Gulf nation by Arab states and others.
(CGTN)
