The United States is selling $11 billion worth of military equipment to the Gulf state of Qatar, including Apache helicopters and Patriot and Javelin defence systems, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel had said on Monday.

Hagel and Vice-President Joe Biden met with Qatar’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah.

Hagel visited the Qatar capital Doha last fall, where he and al-Attiyah renewed a mutual defence pact.

Qatar plays an important role in the fight against terrorism in the region.

“This is a critically important relationship in the region,” said Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby.

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