Trump says Qatar will invest $10 billion in US airbase

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion in coming years in the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of the country's capital Doha, the largest US military facility in the Middle East.

In a speech to US troops at the base during his tour of the Gulf, Trump also said Qatari defence purchases signed on Wednesday are worth $42 billion.

Trump also highlighted that the 2026 budget includes substantial pay raises for service members. 

During an earlier meeting of business leaders, Trump said the US is examining the possible development of a twin-engined warplane to be known as the F-55, as well as an upgrade to its Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor called the F-22 Super.

Trump referred to the proposed F-55 as both an upgrade to the Lockheed Martin F-35 and a separate new development.

He also highlighted the role of a new air dominance platform called the F-47, recently awarded to Boeing BA.N, and said the United States was simultaneously looking at upgrading the stealth fighter that it is designed to replace, the F-22.

"We're going to do an F-55 and - I think, if we get the right price, we have to get the right price - that'll be two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35, and then we're going to do the F-22," Trump said.

"I think the most beautiful fighter jet in the world is the F-22 but we're going to do an F-22 Super and it'll be a very modern version of the F-22 fighter jet," he said.

"We're going to be going with it pretty quickly," he added.

It follows the announcement of a string of business deals including an order from Qatar for 160 Boeing commercial jets.

Trump on Thursday also claimed the US was getting close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, and Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms. "We're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace," Trump said on a tour of the Gulf, according to a shared pool report by AFP. 

Fresh talks between Iranian and US negotiators to resolve disputes over Tehran's nuclear programme ended in Oman on Sunday with further negotiations planned, officials said.