US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Oman to meet the new Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said. Mr Pompeo recently visited Saudi Arabia and travelled to Oman to pay his respects to the late Sultan Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who died last month.
His visit follows the end of a 40-day mourning period for the late sultan, who ruled the country for five decades. "Sultan Qaboos was a revered leader and a friend to all nations. The United States deeply valued His Majesty's strong partnership in promoting regional stability and security. We honor his legacy and remain committed to our strong partnership and friendship with Oman," Mr Pompeo said following the ruler's death last month.
In a statement released ahead of the visit, Mr Pompeo's office expressed the importance of the bilateral partnership between the two countries, describing it as "critical to our mutual national security objectives, including countering terrorism and promoting regional stability."
"Oman plays a unique diplomatic role in the region, bridging divides and promoting dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts, including Yemen, the Middle East peace process, and the Middle East Strategic Alliance," the statement said.
