Press Releases

Today, Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI-1) and Randy Weber (R-TX-14) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken objecting to the impending sale of $500 million worth of armed drones to the state of Qatar.

“Qatar has long operated not only as a principal sponsor of terror worldwide, but as a corrupting influence on U.S. institutions across the board,” stated Rep. Bergman. “Qatar’s abysmal human rights record is notorious, and on those grounds alone, I would seriously question this proposed deal.” 

The Qatari regime has established one of the best-funded foreign influence peddling operations in the nation’s capital, and the tentacles of that operation extend from major media operations to educational institutions and think tanks. In addition, the Emir has engaged in ongoing efforts to influence United States foreign policy outside the scope of U.S. law governing the registration of foreign agents.

Qatar has long supported Hamas, along with its parent organization, the Muslim Brotherhood. The Qatari government has served as a safe haven for Hamas, providing financing, advocacy and even hosting its leadership. They have also provided a media platform for terrorist leaders on Al Jazeera, its state-controlled media operation.

The letter urges Secretaries Austin and Blinken to “raise these concerns on behalf of the American people” on the occasion of the Emir’s impending visit to the United States. 

This imprudent sale of armed drones to a country with such an abysmal record of human rights and support for terror can only harm U.S. national security interests in the region and the reputation of the United States as a defender of human rights. 

You can read the full letter here.