FOREIGN
RELATIONS
When Sultan
Qaboos assumed power in 1970, Oman had limited contacts with the
outside world, including neighboring Arab states. Only two countries,
the United Kingdom and India, maintained a diplomatic presence
in the country. A special treaty relationship permitted the United
Kingdom close involvement in Oman's civil and military affairs.
Ties with the United Kingdom have remained very close under Sultan
Qaboos.
Since 1970, Oman has pursued a moderate foreign policy and expanded its diplomatic relations dramatically. It supported the 1979 Camp David accords and was one of three Arab League states, along with Somalia and Sudan, which did not break relations with Egypt after the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1979. During the Iran-Iraq war, Oman maintained diplomatic relations with both sides while strongly backing UN Security Council resolutions calling for an end to the war. Oman has developed close ties to its neighbors; it joined the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council when it was established in 1981.
Oman has
traditionally supported Middle East peace initiatives, as it did
those in 1983. In April 1994, Oman hosted the plenary meeting
of the Water Working Group of the peace process, the first Gulf
state to do so. From 1996-2000, Oman and Israel exchanged trade
offices. Oman closed the Israeli Trade Office in October 2000
in the wake of public demonstrations against Israel during the
intifada.
During
the Cold War period, Oman avoided relations with communist countries
because of the communist support for the insurgency in Dhofar.
In recent years, Oman has undertaken diplomatic initiatives in
the Central Asian republics, particularly in Kazakhstan, where
it is involved in a joint oil pipeline project. In addition, Oman
maintains good relations with Iran, its northern neighbor, and
the two countries regularly exchange delegations. Oman is an active
member in international and regional organizations, notably the
Arab League and the GCC.
U.S.-OMANI
RELATIONS
The United States has maintained relations with the Sultanate
since the early years of American independence. A treaty of friendship
and navigation, one of the first agreements of its kind with an
Arab state, was concluded between the United States and Muscat
in 1833. This treaty was replaced by the Treaty of Amity, Economic
Relations, and Consular Rights signed at Salalah on December 20,
1958.
A U.S.
consulate was maintained in Muscat from 1880 until 1915. Thereafter,
U.S. interests in Oman were handled by U.S. diplomats resident
in other countries. In 1972, the U.S. ambassador in Kuwait was
accredited also as the first U.S. ambassador to Oman, and the
U.S. embassy, headed by a resident charge d'affaires, was opened.
The first resident U.S. ambassador took up his post in July 1974.
The Oman embassy was opened in Washington, DC, in 1973.
U.S.-Omani
relations were deepened in 1980 by the conclusion of two important
agreements. One provided access to Omani military facilities by
U.S. forces under agreed-upon conditions. The other agreement
established a Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation,
located in Muscat, to provide U.S. economic assistance to Oman.
The Joint Commission continued in existence until the mid-1990s.
A Peace Corps program, which assisted Oman mainly in the fields
of health and education, was initiated in 1973 and phased out
in 1983. A team from the Federal Aviation Administration worked
with Oman's Civil Aviation Department on a reimbursable basis
but was phased out in 1992.
In March 2005, the U.S. and Oman launched negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement that were successfully concluded in October, 2005. The FTA was signed on January 19, 2006, and is pending implementation.
In 1974 and April 1983, Sultan Qaboos made state visits to the United States. Vice President George H. Bush visited Oman in 1984 and 1986, and President Clinton visited briefly in March 2000. Vice President Cheney visited Oman in 2002 and 2005.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Gary A. Grappo
Deputy Chief of Mission--Alfred F. Fonteneau
Chief, Political/Economic Section--Eric Carlson
Economic/Commercial Officer--Brian Grimm
Public Affairs Officer--Robert Arbuckle
Consular Chief--Bryce Isham
The international mailing address of the U.S. Embassy in Oman is:
P.O. Box 202, Postal Code No. 115, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
