The Foreign Ministry strives to maintain good relations with all countries through dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect.

The Foreign Ministry enables Oman to play an active part in a regional community of nations living in harmony and build relationships which assure security and stability while fostering the economic growth and cultural development essential to all states' futures.

[4] When Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said assumed power in 1970, Oman had limited formal agreements with the outside world, including neighbouring Arab states.

The new Sultan launched Oman on a new path of modernisation and progress, which included the establishment of the Foreign Ministry (in its current form) in 1970.

It supported the 1978 Camp David Accords and was one of three Arab League states, along with Somalia and Sudan, which did not break relations with Egypt after the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1979.

Oman has developed close ties to its neighbors; it joined the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council when it was established in 1981.

In April 1994, Oman hosted the plenary meeting of the Water Resources Working Group, which formed part of the peace process efforts.

[6] Oman was instrumental in establishing the Middle East Desalination Research Centre in 1996 and the MEDRC headquarters are in Muscat.

In recent years, Oman has undertaken diplomatic initiatives in the Central Asian republics, including in Kazakhstan, where it was involved in a joint oil pipeline project from 1992 to 2008.

In addition, Oman maintains good relations with Iran, its northern neighbour, and the two countries regularly exchange delegations.

Oman maintains a small but professional and effective military, supplied mainly with British equipment in addition to items from the United States, France, and other countries.

When war broke out in Yemen, Oman's Foreign Ministry offered its service as a facilitator in the search for peace.

The rift caused a crisis for the Gulf Cooperation Council, with members Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia severing diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar.

[8] Prior to the establishment of the Foreign Ministry in 1970, Oman had few formal agreements with other countries, although its strategic location on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula and flourishing maritime trade routes meant Oman had close commercial and cultural links across the Indian Ocean.

The Foreign Ministry is charged with building strong, friendly relations with countries and organisations across the world.

Both countries were former protectorates of European powers, such as the British for Brunei and the Portuguese for Oman, and both are now governed by Islamic absolute monarchies.

[20][21][22] Oman was the only Arab state besides Sudan under Jaafar Nimeiry to maintain good relations with Anwar al Sadat after Egypt recognized Israel.

It ended with intervention of Iranian Imperial Forces and defeat of the rebels, but the state of Oman had to be radically reformed and modernised to cope with the campaign.