Closer to the East: Shoigu in Oman discussed strengthening cooperation

Relations between Moscow and Muscat are showing positive dynamics, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said at talks with his Omani counterpart. A representative Russian delegation arrived in the Sultanate the day before. Oman is becoming one of Russia's main partners in the Middle East. The states are conducting joint military exercises, have launched a visa-free regime, and trade is growing. This year, the tourist flow from our country has almost doubled. Analysts are confident that Russia is particularly interested in Oman due to its strategic location and economic opportunities. Muscat also sees Moscow as an important partner for stability in the Middle East.

Negotiations between Shoigu and the leadership of Oman

The visit of the Secretary of the Russian Security Council to Oman began on November 11. An interdepartmental delegation arrived with him, including representatives of the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the SVR.

The negotiations started early in the morning with a meeting of the working groups. This was followed by a meeting of the Russian-Omani strategic dialogue, chaired by Sergei Shoigu and Secretary General of Oman's National Security Council Idris Al-Kandi.

Relations between Russia and Oman are demonstrating stability and gaining positive momentum against the background of global processes, Shoigu noted. He congratulated his colleague on the upcoming National Day of the Sultanate of Oman.

The key purpose of the meeting is to develop the agreements reached at the end of April during the state visit of Sultan Haysam bin Tarek Al—Said of Oman to Russia. Then Moscow and Muscat agreed on many things. In particular, the abolition of visa requirements and the establishment of a bilateral commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation. The parties also discussed cooperation in the field of security. Right now, Sergei Shoigu stressed:

— A large Russian interdepartmental delegation is in Oman with me, and working groups will consult, during which the most pressing topics of bilateral cooperation will also be raised.

Russian warships regularly call at the Omani ports of Muscat and Salalah, which is especially important in the context of combating piracy off the coast of Somalia. In addition, at the end of October 2024, Russia, Iran and Oman conducted joint naval exercises. Countering the threats of terrorism is also on the agenda.

According to Omani political analyst Khamis Al-Qutaiti, Moscow has shown special interest in the sultanate due to its attractive economic opportunities and strategic position — the country is located at the intersection of sea routes between East and West Asia.

In particular, Muscat is interested in expanding the North–South international transport corridor, and the Ottoman side proposes to develop a roadmap for the development of trade exchange. Oman's political and internal stability creates favorable conditions for the sustainable development of bilateral cooperation.

Grigory Lukyanov, an employee of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, an expert at the Valdai Club, noted in an interview with Izvestia that among the main principles of Oman's foreign policy, along with neutrality, is the desire to pursue a multi—vector balanced foreign policy. Cooperation with Russia meets the strategic interests of the Sultanate and can help solve medium- and long-term problems of effective development.

— Oman strives to maintain the credit of mutual trust with each of the parties, strives to present itself as an effective mediator, at least as a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation between the conflicting parties, — the expert specified.

Al-Qutaiti also recalls that this year Oman and Russia celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the visit of the Secretary of the Russian Security Council will further strengthen the special relations between the two states.

Development of relations between Russia and Oman

In 2024, the trade turnover between Russia and Oman amounted to $314 million. Wheat makes up the majority of Russian exports, but the parties aim to increase non-primary supplies. To do this, joint working groups are being created, visa requirements are being lifted, and payment mechanisms are being built. In addition to economic cooperation, Russia can offer Oman educational exchange programs and joint scientific and educational projects in areas such as energy, medicine and logistics.

The tourism sector also has great prospects. During the period from January to July 2025, record growth was noted: 41.1 thousand Russians visited the Sultanate, which is 87% more than in the same period of 2024. This means that 2025 will set a new record for tourist traffic. The Moscow Days in Oman and the business forum are taking place against the background of Sergei Shoigu's visit.

Khamis Al-Qutaiti draws attention to the sustainability of Oman's economy and finances, which strengthens its role in the region and makes economic cooperation more promising. According to the expert, the positions of Moscow and Muscat largely coincide on key international issues, which helps to strengthen mutual understanding.

He notes that the Sultanate is one of the mainstays of the Middle East, and its balanced foreign policy arouses the interest of world powers. As a global player, Russia strives to balance the international system and maintain stability, including through participation in the BRICS association and support for a number of Arab and regional initiatives.

"Both countries are striving to avert the threat of tension and at the same time contribute to the recovery of the global economy — all these are important and vital directions that the Russian Federation and the Sultanate of Oman are following," Al—Kutaiti believes.

Oman is still at the stage of exploring the possibilities of cooperation with the BRICS, and relations between it and the EAEU are also at the stage of development and the search for ways to deepen cooperation. Therefore, it is impossible to exclude the expansion of cooperation between the Sultanate and these associations in the future.