- The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, discussed on Sunday with the head of US Central Command in the Middle East, General Kenneth Mackenzie, the strategic and defense relations between the two countries.
Sheikh Tamim received the American military official and the accompanying delegation at the Emiri Diwan on the occasion of taking office, replacing General Joseph Fotel, who retired from service.
During his meeting with Mackenzie, the Prince touched on the relations between Doha and Washington, especially the defense and military fields and means of developing them.
For his part, the General praised the role played by Qatar through the air base and the joint efforts of the two countries to fight terrorism.
The US Central Command oversees US military actions in several countries, including Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Doha and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in January to expand the US presence at the base of many - where some 13,000 US military personnel are stationed, most of them from the Air Force - the largest US military base in the region.