Ben Wallace, UK State Secretary for Defence arrived to Muscat Monday on an official several-day visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

The UK Minister and his accompanying delegation were received at A’Seeb Air Base by Commodore Saif bin Nasser al-Rahbi, Assistant Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces for Administration and a number of senior officers.

They were also received by the UK Ambassador to the Sultanate and the British Defence Attaché at the UK Embassy in Muscat, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

For his part, His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs had received the visiting Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in addition to the two countries’ cooperation and mutual defense agreement. They also discussed regional issues of common interest.

They also exchanged views on a number of current regional and international issues of common interest. The two sides stressed the importance of supporting all peaceful efforts that aim at strengthening ties of cooperation and understanding in a way that enhances pillars of peace and security in the region and the world.

The meeting was attended by Sir Edward Lister, Chief Strategic Advisor to the Prime Minister, Hamish Cowell, UK Ambassador to the Sultanate, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Badi, Head of the Minister’s Office Department and a number of officials at the Ministry.

Furthermore, the British Secretary of State for Defence went on tour of Musandam Governorate Tuesday (photo) as part of his current visit to the Sultanate.

The Minister was accompanied during the visit by Air Vice Marshal Mattar bin Ali al-Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman.