Oman, UK Review Strategic Partnership and Regional Developments
London, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom held talks on strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation and advancing their strategic partnership across political, economic, developmental, and investment sectors.
The discussions took place during a meeting in London between Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, and Yvette Cooper, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. The two sides reviewed progress made through the Strategic Dialogue Team and the Joint Working Group, and discussed the implementation of previously agreed programs and work tracks to serve shared interests and expand bilateral cooperation.
On regional issues, the ministers exchanged views on a number of developments of mutual concern, including the situations in Yemen, Sudan, and Iran.
Regarding Yemen, both sides underscored the importance of supporting efforts to consolidate the truce and advance comprehensive political dialogue in a manner that safeguards Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The talks also covered developments in the Gaza Strip, with the ministers stressing the need to intensify humanitarian efforts to ease the suffering of the population. They emphasized the importance of stepping up international efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire, support reconstruction, and revive the peace process in line with the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
On the Iranian nuclear file, the two ministers highlighted the necessity of creating conditions conducive to reviving diplomacy and resuming negotiations, with the aim of reducing regional tensions, enhancing security and stability, and preventing escalation and conflict.
As for Sudan, the ministers discussed the grave humanitarian situation and the urgent need to work toward a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a truce. They stressed that such steps are essential to enable UN relief agencies to carry out humanitarian operations and to pave the way for political consensus among the conflicting parties.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both Oman and the UK to deepening cooperation and coordinating efforts on regional and international issues of shared concern.
