What's Oman doing in the mid of uproar in the Arab Peninsula?
Oman is that far south-eastern part of the Arab Peninsula is an interesting episode of the history. Media outlets haven't been highlighting it much.
The Omani map/ by www.operationworld.org
Most importantly, its strategic geographical location pushes the cursor of the compass towards understanding how Omani leadership handles its policies in the swaying Gulf region that surrounding it.
Oman is an oil-wealthy country, in addition, its well-reputed pearl and gemstones extraction and industry, as well as, its beauty that featured by other marine creatures like coral reefs including other amenities.
As such, it has been an attractive destination for foreign investments, especially its strategic location at "Strait of Hormuz" alone shows us a story of a challenging political experience whether that it went through since the moderate Palace Coup that occurred in 1970 in Muscat when Qaboos Ibn Saed seized the throne from his father Saed Ibn Taymor.
Sultan Qaboos set out on a journey of political reformations characterized by moderation, openness, and pragmatism. Up till then, the Sultanate of Oman has been stable to the degree that people who live in the other hemisphere used to somewhat have some sort of impression that the country was founded silently and kept away the factors that lead to deterioration whether internally or externally, although the plagued surroundings that the Arab Peninsula has gone through.
Indeed, Oman could have wisely managed its policies which kept off plunging into the slope of sectarianism that's MENA region has been plagued by, for instance.
The country moved on the path of regional cooperation when co-founded Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with the other Gulf States, as well as, it maintains vigorous economic ties in this region and abroad labeled by its close strategic cooperation with the U.S.A. which not only confined on economic exchange, but also, on the security sector. It went along with U.S. counterterrorism strategy after 9/11.
Dating back to the history, we could touch upon that the fluctuations that the country experienced in the 1970s, infers to the reason behind strengthening security cooperation. In the mid of this very decade, Sultan Qaboos defeated a communist-inspired separatist group had broken out in the 1960s. Iranian military forces intervened to back Qaboos up.
By 1971, Oman occupied its seats at the UN and the Arab League.
After that, it stood up neutrally seeking out stability. It, however, endorsed the operation "the Storm of Desert" in 1990 against the former Iraqi regime for invading Kuwait, and endorsed breaking down the Iraqi attempt of building nuclear facilities.
Currently, the Gulf region is going through what's said to be one of the severest diplomatic crises has ever taken place, it erupted when the Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain including Egypt cut diplomatic ties off, this included some of other economic conduits like airlines are suspended back and forth.
This crisis came into play in order to subordinate the Qatari regime for its policies that considered the main factors behind strengthening terror cells in the MENA region specifically in war-ridden Syria.
Omani leadership attitude hasn't been supportive of either side, it has sought out intermediating to reach an end to this crisis. So, it didn't ramp up against Qatar revoking diplomatic relations as other countries did. Omani rule stated that "it's not a wise step to take at the moment."
It kept on this relationship with Qatar setting the demand of the boycotting axis under the Saudi leadership that asked Oman to besiege Qatar and cutting lifeline off.
Basically, Saudi leadership already criticized the Sultanate's widening relations with Iran in many fields like security and economy which shrinks the trust with Oman as a strategic ally for it.
In their turn, Omani and Kuwaiti foreign ministers have been seeking reconciliation that seemed to have brought out their biased position for the Saudi side claiming that's not in their interest to keep backing Qatar up disregarding other three Gulf's States desires on the other hand for a long, it might be a run out patience.
Of course, Omani government opens the vital crossing in the south for Qatar, but the status quo might change at any point.
Currently, the Gulf region is going through what's said to be one of the severest diplomatic crises has ever taken place, it erupted when the Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain including Egypt cut diplomatic ties off, this included some of other economic conduits like airlines are suspended back and forth.
This crisis came into play in order to subordinate the Qatari regime for its policies that considered the main factors behind strengthening terror cells in the MENA region specifically in war-ridden Syria.
Omani leadership attitude hasn't been supportive of either side, it has sought out intermediating to reach an end to this crisis. So, it didn't ramp up against Qatar revoking diplomatic relations as other countries did. Omani rule stated that "it's not a wise step to take at the moment."
It kept on this relationship with Qatar setting the demand of the boycotting axis under the Saudi leadership that asked Oman to besiege Qatar and cutting lifeline off.
Basically, Saudi leadership already criticized the Sultanate's widening relations with Iran in many fields like security and economy which shrinks the trust with Oman as a strategic ally for it.
In their turn, Omani and Kuwaiti foreign ministers have been seeking reconciliation that seemed to have brought out their biased position for the Saudi side claiming that's not in their interest to keep backing Qatar up disregarding other three Gulf's States desires on the other hand for a long, it might be a run out patience.
Of course, Omani government opens the vital crossing in the south for Qatar, but the status quo might change at any point.
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