Oman 's Foreign Policy towards Gulf Security Issues 1971-2003

The foreign policy of the Sultanate of Oman has been built on the principle of keeping the country distant from regional and international conflicts and disputes and avoiding interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries. Even when Oman adopted a supportive stance toward Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War or toward Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion, its position was always within certain limits, leaving an open window for diplomatic flexibility. This study aims to present and discuss Oman's security strategy in the context of Gulf security and assess its success in keeping Oman away from conflicts and its ability to persuade its neighbors to understand this policy. The importance of this study lies in clarifying the nature of Oman's foreign policy in the security sector, as Oman was unique in offering security initiatives to safeguard the security of the Arabian Gulf. Oman was also the first Gulf country to sign a security agreement with the United States in 1980. The study consists of four main sections: the first addresses the foundations of Oman's foreign policy, the second examines Gulf security from an Omani perspective, the third analyzes Oman's position on the three Gulf Wars, and the fourth discusses Oman's policy toward the U.S. military presence in the Arabian Gulf. The conclusion presents several findings, the most important of which is that Oman's security initiatives act as a parallel line of defense, in line with its philosophy of relying on U.S. forces. This long-term policy is unlikely to change in the near future.