France and Oman stressed on Monday the “imperative of supporting de-escalation across the region, advancing conflict prevention, and countering all forms of terrorism.”
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik concluded an official visit to France where he met with President Emmanuel Macron.
In a joint statement, they “highlighted the critical importance of securing maritime routes and ensuring the freedom and safety of navigation in accordance with international law,” reported Oman’s state news agency ONA.
“They emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated their commitment to free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation, including the right of transit passage in accordance with the law of the sea. Both parties agreed to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to support freedom of navigation going forward.”
“The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to sustained coordination and the intensification of joint efforts aimed at contributing to international peace and security,” it added.
“They reiterated their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which remains the legal framework for governing maritime spaces, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman,” continued the statement.
The leaders underlined their “commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the crisis in the region, commending the constructive role of both countries in this regard, and highlighted the need to restore regional stability and security.”
They also welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the United States and Iran and their support to the ongoing negotiations aimed at reaching a long-term diplomatic settlement.
Moreover, Macron and Sultan Haitham said that “lasting peace in the region can only be realized through a fair, comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the internationally agreed parameters.”
“They reaffirmed in this regard their support for the implementation of the Two-State solution and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and democratic State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” continued the statement.
The leaders stressed the need to implement the New York Declaration for the implementation of the Two-State solution endorsed by 142 States in 2025 as well as the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and the provisions of UN Security Council 2803 in its entirety, including the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and maintenance of the ceasefire, in good faith and without delay.
They welcomed the positive outcomes of the first strategic dialogue that took place in Paris on April 14 and of recent ministerial visits, including of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs to Muscat on May 1, which resulted in tangible progress in political, economic, defense and cultural areas.
Sultan Haitham and Macron opened the Franco-Omani business forum, which brought together more than 60 French and Omani companies. The event helped strengthen business relations between the two countries and led to the signing of major economic contracts in the fields of renewable energy, water, and aerospace.
They “commended the dynamism of the bilateral economic relations and expressed their wish to expand them further by enhancing bilateral trade and facilitating trade flows between Oman and France. They reiterated their joint commitment to implementing projects of mutual interest, based on the long-standing presence of French companies in Oman.”
They underscored the importance of developing investment relations between their countries, highlighting the need to increase mutual investment in each country’s productive sectors.
This would be achieved through partnership opportunities provided by the Oman Vision 2040 and France 2030, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, hydrogen, maritime infrastructure, logistics, information technology, transportation, tourism, culture and the space industry.
