The Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed last week a joint defense agreement between the two friendly countries, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate by Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al- Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs, and by British Secretary of Defense Gavin Williamson on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

The agreement emphasizes the historic and deep-rooted relations of cooperation between the Sultanate and the United Kingdom in various fields and in the interest of the leaderships of the two friendly countries to deepen these relations and unify common visions to achieve their security and stability and prosperity of their peoples and to strengthen the military cooperation embodied in a number of close cooperation and bilateral exercises, the latest Swift Sword/3).

This agreement aims at framing the commitment of the two countries to jointly defend their security, stability and prosperity, and their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country and the development of bilateral military action to achieve harmony between the armed forces of the two friendly countries.

Following the signing of the agreement, Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al- Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs said: “This agreement comes as part of the pursuit of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Queen Elizabeth II’s government of Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Independent States to promote bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the Sultanate and the United Kingdom in the field of defense, which marks a milestone in the course of their cooperation”

“The signing of this agreement today comes to affirm the importance of activating the military action to ensure the security and stability of the two friendly countries, and pave the way for more military cooperation and joint exercises translated into the objectives of this agreement,” he added.

“We are delighted to sign this agreement, which will strengthen our relations with one of our most important partners.  This is an important historic event between our two countries and we reaffirm our commitment to the common defense of our two countries,” commented British Secretary of Defense Gavin Williamson. 

“The security of the Gulf is an extension of our security and it is important to expand our horizons to make the United Kingdom a global state following the withdrawal from the European Union,” he added.

 On arrival at the Ministry of Defense headquarters at Mua’askar Beit Al Falaj, the British guest was greeted with an official reception ceremony, where a group of the guard of honor greeted him with the military salute.

Following the meeting, the Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs held an official session of talks with the British Secretary of Defense during which they reviewed the relations of cooperation in the military field between the two friendly countries and means of enhancing them and discussing issues of common concern.

The signing ceremony and the talks session were attended by Mohammed bin Nasser al-Rasbi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Matar bin Salim al-Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman, Rear-Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al-Raisi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman.  They were attended from the British side by Hamish Cowell, the UK Ambassador to the Sultanate and the guest’s accompanying delegation.

Meanwhile, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said gave an audience at Bait Al Barakah to British Secretary of Defense Gavin Williamson.

The audience discussed aspects of the existing bilateral cooperation between the Sultanate and the United Kingdom in various spheres to serve the common interests of the Omani and British friendly people.

The audience was attended by Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs, and Hamish Cowell, the UK appointed Ambassador to the Sultanate.