King Charles III praised Oman’s peacemaking efforts in the Middle East as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq began the first state visit to Britain by an Omani ruler in 44 years. The last such visit was in March 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted Sultan Qaboos bin Said. This visit ran from Oct. 20 to 22.
Speaking at a banquet at Windsor Castle for around 160 guests, the king paid tribute to Muscat’s noble efforts to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been choked by regional conflict. He said Oman had shown an enduring commitment as a trusted interlocutor to all parties at a time when, in his words, conflict had returned painfully to the region.
Charles said Oman’s role across the Gulf and its ‘constructive neutrality’ mattered far beyond Hormuz and deserved Britain’s utmost respect. He described the two countries as ‘bonded by diplomacy, defence, trade, and trust’.
The visit comes amid severe turbulence in the Middle East following the US-Iran war. Oman, a key UK military ally that borders the Hormuz waterway, has acted as a mediator in talks between Washington and Tehran since the conflict flared in late February.
Britain and Oman have long been military partners. British forces have trained alongside Omani forces in Oman for decades, and the port town of Duqm has hosted an enduring UK strategic military presence.
The sultan held talks on Oct. 21 at Downing Street with Prime Minister Andy Burnham.