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In an interview with the Times of Oman published on 11 April, visiting US deputy secretary of state Antony Blinken praised Oman’s role as a broker that has played a crucial role in negotiating a peaceful

affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator in May, having held the Yemen job since March 2018 (GSN 1,126/8).

His appointment on 6 August was welcomed by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others, but he faces a daunting task in trying to persuade the warring sides to agree a peace deal.

GSN Online Issue 874 - 9 April 2010 It’s official: Oman’s Eurofighter deal Just ahead of its 6 May general election, the United Kingdom has finally confirmed that Oman is in line to buy Eurofighter

However, GSN last August observed: “BAE and the Eurofighter consortium found their own ways to sweeten the deal and win over the traditionally pro-British leadership.

However, Riyadh has not publicised any actions, perhaps out of fear of antagonising public opinion and/or due to the risk of jeopardising peace talks with the Houthis (see Politics: Oman optimistic about

Matériel which is dual-use or can be disguised as non-lethal, such as electronic parts and engine components used to make drones in Yemen, is regularly smuggled through Oman’s Mazyunah border

checkpoint, the heavily-used and only land freight entry point into Yemen.

Despite efforts by the UN and others to foster peace, the conflict grinds on.

The four Yemeni crewmembers were transferred to Yemen and their boat was sunk in the Gulf of Oman on 13 November.

Riyadh hoped for a swift victory, but it became bogged down in a complex conflict.

and followed this up the next day with talks in Muscat with Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said – details of the meeting were not released but it is likely the agenda covered both the faltering Yemeni peace

process and the US plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the launch of which appears imminent.

Italy’s Eni has finalised a memorandum of understanding with Oman Oil Company (OOC) covering exploration for oil and gas in the sultanate.

The Ministry of Oil and Gas has granted exploration rights in the offshore Block 52 to Eni and OOC subsidiary Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production.

Oman has signed a contract to buy 12 Typhoon and eight Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft from BAE Systems.

It was the first major deal to be announced since BAE’s proposed merge with EADS collapsed.

Developments in recent weeks suggest that local resistance to outside interference has stiffened in Yemen’s Mahra governorate, which borders Oman.

Hadi government-appointed representatives nor the Saudi-led coalition forces – or the UAE forces before them – have been able to overcome the passive resistance of the so-called ‘Mahri peaceful

By contrast, Al-Baydh was forced to leave Oman when he started to speak out about conditions at home; he has moved to mainland Europe.

But as in all family disputes, its younger siblings hope it deals with contentious issues discreetly. Until then, the UAE may have to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

In 2010, the UK government confirmed long-standing industry rumours that Oman was in line to buy the jets.

Initial reports suggested a deal could involve 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, and be valued at around £1.4bn.

State news agencies reported the deal on 12 March, during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s two-day visit to Oman, his first trip to the Gulf since becoming president in June.

The new deal will provide the basis for enhanced political dialogue and strengthened co-operation, according to a statement issued by Mogherini.

Those “issues of mutual interest” include the Qatar crisis, relations with Iran and efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Yemen war.