Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi participated in a joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States of America, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council. It was also attended by Their Highnesses, Excellencies and Foreign Ministers of the GCC member states, along with Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, and Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, the GCC Secretary General.

The meeting reviewed prospects for the existing strategic partnership and ways to strengthen it across the economic, security and defence fields. The discussions aimed to contribute to lasting peace and prosperity and reinforce the foundations of security and stability.

The Ministers exchanged views on the latest regional developments in the Gulf and the Middle East. They underlined the importance of continuing and intensifying diplomatic efforts to achieve their shared objective of reaching final, peaceful and sustainable solutions to all complex issues affecting the countries of the region and threatening their security and stability.

They also affirmed the need to respect the principles of international law, state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. This would enhance prospects for security, stability, peaceful coexistence and good neighbourly relations and safeguard the interests of the region’s peoples.

During his remarks to the meeting, Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi renewed the Sultanate of Oman’s support for the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He highlighted the importance of achieving its objectives in pursuit of the desired peace. He also affirmed Oman’s commitment to full and constructive engagement with all parties to advance this process.

Sayyid Badr emphasised  the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring its safe and uninterrupted flow. He noted that Oman, as a state bordering the Strait, has a special responsibility to support international efforts to secure maritime navigation in accordance with its responsibilities and obligations under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He added that any future arrangements concerning the Strait would not involve the imposition of transit fees.

The meeting was attended by Sayyid Faisal bin Harib Al Busaidi, Oman’s Ambassador to Bahrain, Sheikh Ahmed bin Hashel Al Maskari, Head of the Ministry’s Department for the GCC and Region, and officials from the Foreign Ministry.