Oman: The Political Bridge Builders

Oman is celebrating the National Day of the New Renaissance this month and the Sultanate continues to enjoy its long-term standing as one of the most political stable countries in the world.

Its history is illuminated with achievements that many of them have not been equal by any country in the world. For many centuries, Oman used its seafaring supremacy to explore the world to seek new friendships with leaders around the world, from Kings, Sultans, Presidents, Tribal Chiefs to Army Generals.

While travelling around the world, Omanis also started profiting trade routes that had mutual benefits to the economies of the countries they sailed to. With that rich experience of diversity, Oman build a close and harmonious relationship with countries to forge clear understanding and ideas to communicate well.

The country still retains that ‘gift’ of interacting well with people of different nationalities, whether they are leaders or ordinary citizens. In the past, Oman successfully mediated with feuding countries and brought peace, not just with its neighbours but thousands of miles beyond its borders. In the countries that bordered the Zambezi Rivers in Africa, Oman helped arbitrate a peaceful agreement between their leaders in the 15th Century. While in the Indian Ocean, Oman helped protect the trading routes when ships sailed across this turbulent sea route in early 17th Century.

Oman also sent an envoy all the way to the United States in the 19th Century to bridge the gap between Arabia and North America. Four decades before that, Omanis worked hard to establish political links that would help Great Britain to explore Arabia, now known as the Arab Gulf countries.

With the current political climate around world, Oman is still building the political bridges all the way from Europe to the United States leading to the Arab world. It is doing so, not only based on its solid experience of the past but above all, from its formidable position of trust. The New York Times, from its editorial review last August, paid a rich tribute to Oman saying “Oman is an international political bridge of peace with unselfish motives.”

These words need to be embossed in gold letters, for all of us to see, whenever and wherever we go. As Omanis, we must feel proud of our glittering history and the achievements of our leaders in the past and even ordinary citizens who make us proud now. As we continue to carry the mantle of the greatness of the Omanis in the past, the country will do no wrong.

In conclusion, as we march forward to the next stage of the New Renaissance of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Oman will continue to help the world be a better place with its diplomatic negotiations and the bridges of peace it continues to erect.