Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Qatar became the leading U.S. defense client in 2014.

Significantly, among the Gulf Arab states, Qatar has the closest ties with Iran, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Officials said Qatar ordered a third of U.S. arms sales during fiscal 2014, which ended on Oct. 1. They said Doha submitted $11 billion in orders, which contributed to a total of $34.2 billion in U.S. arms exports from October 2013 to Sept. 30 2014.

“In a relationship context, every single sale is important to us,” Defense Security Cooperation Agency director Joseph Rixey said.

In July 2014, Qatar ordered 10 PAC-3 ballistic missile defense batteries, 24 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and 500 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.

Under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, the Gulf Cooperation Council emirate was joined by the United Arab Emirates, which submitted a $2.5 billion order for 4,500 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles and a $2 billion contract for the modernization of Saudi Arabia’s airborne warning and control aircraft fleet.

“In the broader foreign policy realm, FMS often serves as the basis for long-term relationships between partner countries and the United States,” Rixey said.

DSCA said arms exports for fiscal 2014 marked an increase from the previous year, when sales reached $30 billion. Arms exports peaked in 2012 at $69.1 billion, based on a $29 billion order by Saudi Arabia for the F-15 fighter-jet.

Officials said the Middle East would continue to mark a major U.S. defense market over the next year. They cited expected orders by Iraq amid its drive to stop Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

“FMS agreements result in more-capable partners who are able to take on missions that might otherwise fall to U.S. forces,” Rixey said on Oct. 27.

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