In April, Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss expanding trade relations and the possibility of holding an Arab League summit in Russia. During the meeting, Putin emphasized the need to enhance trade and economic ties, particularly in logistics, transportation, mutual investment, and agriculture, and stated that Russia is ready to develop relations in all areas.
This visit by the Omani Sultan came less than a week after Qatar's Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, made an official visit to Russia. Qatar and Russia also highlighted their strategic partnership and friendly relations, signing memorandums of understanding in various fields, including healthcare, sports, and energy. While Western countries have been mediating in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Oman and Qatar have been strengthening their ties with Russia.
Oman's Multi-faceted Diplomatic Strategy
Oman is an Ibadi-majority country, founded on a different doctrine than the Sunni or Shia branches of Islam that most Islamic states follow. Oman's history, centered on the Ibadi sect since before the current Sultanate, has enabled it to adopt an independent diplomatic path. This has allowed Oman to build relationships with various partners instead of relying on support from Western nations, unlike other GCC countries. For example, Oman requested military assistance from Iran, not Western countries, to quell a rebellion in the 1970s.
Russia, pursuing a "return to the East" strategy and shifting its focus from Europe back to Asia, has found Oman to be a strategic partner amid Western sanctions. Oman has worked to build a more diverse network of partnerships with a wider range of countries compared to other GCC states. Leveraging its long history as a trading hub, Muscat maintains ties with China and India. Oman's deep historical roots allow it to maintain a non-aligned foreign policy, avoiding leaning too heavily toward either the East or the West. This shared diplomatic approach has created a positive foundation for strengthening relations between the two countries.
Deepening Russia-Oman Relations
The relationship between Russia and Oman has been strengthening recently. In December 2023, the Sultan's son, Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, visited Moscow and met with President Putin. He expressed agreement with Putin's assessment of the current international situation, stating his consensus on ending the "unjust world order and Western dominance" to build a "new, fair world order and economic relations".
Despite this support for Russia's stance, Oman maintains proper diplomatic relations with the West and solidifies cooperation with neighboring GCC countries. This strategy also applies to its relations with Russia, China, and Iran, with ties to Russia becoming stronger than before. High-level visits between the two countries have increased since 2023, including a Russian delegation led by Nikolai Patrushev visiting Muscat in September 2023 and Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said visiting Moscow in December. In May 2024, Chairman of the Omani State Council Abdulmalik Al Khalili visited Moscow, and in June, Oman attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum as a guest of honor. In October of the same year, Putin invited Sultan Haitham to Moscow. This increase in mutual visits signals a strengthening of their strategic partnership.
Strengthening Ties Through Military Cooperation
In late October 2024, Russia and Oman participated in Iran's IMEX 2024 naval exercise. According to Iran's state broadcaster Press TV, the navies of Russia and Oman, along with observers from nine other countries, participated in the exercise, which aimed to "enhance regional collective security, expand multilateral cooperation, and promote peace and maritime security". While Oman and Iran have held joint military exercises annually, this was the first trilateral exercise to include Russia. This trilateral exercise is expected to strengthen bilateral military cooperation between Russia and Oman.
Oman has already solidified military cooperation with China and India by leveraging its geographical advantages. The Omani port of Salalah is frequently visited by Chinese warships, and Oman has provided access to the Port of Duqm for the Indian Navy. Oman is also the only GCC country that conducts regular bilateral exercises with the Indian military.
For Russia, cooperation with Oman is essential to expand its reach into other regions and enhance its security. Given recent sanctions and the collapse of the Syrian Assad regime, which has made it difficult to utilize existing port infrastructure, cooperation with Oman, a strategic location, will be a significant help for Russia.
Expanding Relations Through Economic and Cultural Cooperation
Russia and Oman are promoting economic development through organizations like their respective chambers of commerce and business councils. Oman hopes for market access for Russian manufacturers related to oil and agriculture, as well as collaboration in technology and investment. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2024, the Omani state-owned enterprise Madayn and the logistics company Asyad Group met with business leaders from Moscow to sign memorandums of understanding and discuss future cooperation. Additionally, during their April meeting, Putin and Sultan Haitham confirmed that both countries could cooperate more closely in the energy, agriculture, and trade sectors.
The Omani Ministry of Heritage and Tourism recently opened representative offices in Moscow and St. Petersburg to promote tourism and increase the number of visitors from Russia. As a result, the number of Russian tourists visiting Oman surged by 350% in 2023, and direct flights between the two countries have been resumed. With plans to invest approximately $5.6 billion in its tourism industry and infrastructure, Oman expects the number of Russian tourists to increase further.
A Common Goal: Resolving the Iran Nuclear Issue
Oman, which has been mediating nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, also discussed the issue during the meeting with President Putin. Oman mediated the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement and recently hosted high-level nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran in its capital, Muscat, on April 12, followed by a second round on April 19 at the Omani embassy in Rome. Sultan Haitham's visit to Moscow occurred just two days after the second round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran.
A Kremlin spokesperson stated that they discussed the Iranian nuclear program, with Putin praising Oman's efforts and emphasizing that they contribute to reducing the real risks. Prior to Sultan Haitham's visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Russia on April 17-18 to meet with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to share updates on the nuclear negotiations. This visit took place just before the second round of nuclear talks. During his meeting with Lavrov, the Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized Russia's role, stating that while Iran remains suspicious of the U.S., it is ready for a peaceful resolution.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a signatory of the original JCPOA, Russia has a shared role with Oman in the nuclear negotiations and agreement, and both countries can expect to gain benefits from a successful deal. This alignment of interests is expected to further solidify their bilateral relationship.
댓글 0