Oman to join Islamic antiterrorism coalition

The military coalition, of which the UAE is a member, was announced by the Saudi defence minister in December last year. Oman would be the 41st nation to join

Omani minister for defence affairs Badr bin Saud Al Busaidi attends a meeting for GCC defence ministers in Doha on May 5, 2008. Karim Jaafar / AFP Photo

MUSCAT // Oman on Thursday said it was joining the Islamic Military Coalition to Fight Terrorism launched by Saudi Arabia last year.

The decision was conveyed to the Saudi defence minister, deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a message from his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Saud Al Busaidi.

The antiterrorism coalition, of which the UAE is a member, was announced by the Saudi defence minister last December. Oman would be the 41st nation to join.

The Omani foreign ministry said the decision “comes within the common understanding of the Islamic countries and in particular the role and leadership of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and “within the context of the importance to achieve peace, security and stability in the regions dominated by armed terrorist violence”.

A ministry official told The National Oman would share intelligence to counter terrorism, but would not abandon its policy of neutrality.

“Our intention is very clear that we are supporting the fight against terrorism as part of the regional alliance but we will not be part of any military aggression against any of our neighbours or Arab brothers,” the official said.

“We have demonstrated that stand by giving medical assistance to many Yemenis wounded in the current conflict as part of our humanitarian polices,” he added.

Oman has been lauded by the United Nations and the European Union for its assistance to those affected by the conflict in Yemen, which began when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels overran the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict in March 2015 to restore the country’s internationally recognised government.

Yemen’s war has created a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people forced to flee their homes and lacking adequate food and medical care. More than 10,000 people have been killed, according to UN estimates.

Although Oman is a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, it also maintains cordial relations with Iran, its northern neighbour across the Gulf of Oman. The sultanate is the only GCC country which is nor participating in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. It sees itself as a regional mediator bound by its constitution that says the country will not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations.

In October, using its position as a neutral party, Oman negotiated the release of two US citizens held by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. It has also hosted several rounds of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

Political commentators said Oman could not display double standards by being a country of refuge and at the same time taking part in military strikes on its neighbour.

“It is highly unlikely that Oman would put itself in a position of ambiguity by aiding the wounded and the homeless and at the same time help kill them. It’s most likely the country will continue on its convictions to be neutral,” said Fahad Al Saadi, a political commentator and retired diplomat.

Other political observers said that joining military campaigns with the Saudis would jeopardise Oman’s relations with Iran.

“Oman is deeply committed to peace. A big part of it is to make sure the Iranians are reasonably contained. Joining the Saudis in any military conflict in Yemen would not go well with Tehran and that would put the sultanate in a tricky situation,” said Khalifa Al Rahbi, a writer and blogger on politics.

Oman played a major role in initiating the negotiations that led to the lifting of nternational sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Oman and Iran later signed a deal in 2014 for a joint gas pipeline project that is estimated to generates revenues of about $60 billion over the next 25 years.