<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>King Felipe VI met this Tuesday in Madrid with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al-Busaid, with whom he discussed, among other matters, the importance of expanding areas of economic and investment cooperation. Separately, at the gala dinner offered to the Omani sovereign, the King advocated for “a new regional security architecture that allows for the integration of Iran into the region and an end to the war in Yemen.”</strong></h4> The King and Queen officially received the Sultan of Oman at the Royal Palace in Madrid, on the occasion of his state visit to Spain as part of a European tour. This visit resumes the one that was originally scheduled for last May but was postponed at the last minute due to the death of the mother of his wife, Ahad bint Abdullah Al-Busaidiyah. This is the first state visit by a foreign head of state to Spain since May 3, 2023, when the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, visited. No other international leader has traveled to Spain under the protocol of a state visit since then. Furthermore, this is the second state visit from the Sultanate of Oman to Spain, following that of Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1989. Following the reception, which was attended by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI met with the Sultan of Oman at the Zarzuela Palace, followed by a luncheon also attended by Queen Letizia. During the bilateral meeting, according to the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two monarchs discussed the regional and international situation and emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation and investment "to strengthen the economies of both countries." After the meeting, which was also attended by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, the two sovereigns exchanged decorations. The Sultan awarded King Felipe VI the Al Said Medal, as a symbol of the deep and strong relationship between the two countries, and bestowed upon Queen Letizia the First Order of Oman, as well as royal decorations upon several Spanish dignitaries. For his part, King Felipe VI awarded the Sultan the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Spain's highest royal decoration, and bestowed the Order of Isabella the Catholic upon a total of eight ministers and members of the Omani government: the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs, Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said; the Minister of the Royal Office, Sultan Mohammed Al Nomani; the Minister of the Royal Court Council, Sayyid Khalid Hilal Al Busaidy; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi; the Minister of Trade, Qais Mohammed Al Yousef; the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salim Nasser Al Aufi; the Head of the Sultan's Private Office, Hamed Said Al Oufi; and the Chairman of the Omani Investment Authority, Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi. He also presented the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit to the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman in Madrid, Thamir Faiz Al Alawi. to the Commander of the Royal Guard, Salim Ali Al Hosni; the Chief of Royal Protocol, Mohammed Hamed Al Sarmi; and the Head of the Medical Unit of the Royal Court of the Sultanate of Oman, Saif Zahir Al Salmi. Separately, the Sovereign of Oman visited the Senate, where he was received by the President of the Upper House, Pedro Rollán, and the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, and where he greeted the members of the Bureaus and the spokespersons of the Parliamentary Groups of both Houses. After signing the Senate's Book of Honor, the Presidents of the Senate and the Congress presented him with the medal of their respective Houses. In his speech before the Senate, the Sultan of Oman thanked Spain for its position on “the many problems the world is suffering” and assured that his country is “eager” to strengthen the relationship with Spain in “all political, economic, commercial and cultural areas”. The Sultan also visited Madrid City Hall, where the Deputy Mayor of the capital, Inma Sanz, presented him with the Golden Key of the City “as a symbol of gratitude for his visit and an expression of the affection and respect of the people of Madrid and the Spanish State towards the Omani people.” In the evening, a gala dinner will be held at the Royal Palace of Madrid, hosted by the King and Queen in honor of Haitham bin Tariq. The two monarchs will also preside over a Spain-Oman business meeting on Wednesday at the Royal Palace of El Pardo, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business. That same day, the Sultan will be received by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, at the Moncloa Palace. <h5><strong>Gala dinner</strong></h5> That evening, the King and Queen hosted a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid in honor of Haitham bin Tariq, during which Felipe VI affirmed that Spain and Oman are “linked by the presence of Spanish companies that constantly contribute to Oman’s development in areas such as civil engineering, energy, museums, air and maritime traffic control, and waste management.” “I thank you for your vision and commitment, so important for continuing to move forward based on the new opportunities opening up in Oman, such as tourism, the use of outer space, new energy sources, healthcare, transportation, and artificial intelligence,” he added. The King also recalled “the situation in Palestine and, in particular, what is happening in the Gaza Strip, the scene, for the last two years, of a devastating humanitarian tragedy.” “Our country has been working for decades, always through dialogue and commitment to international law, for peace in the Middle East,” he affirmed. According to the King, this same “desire to contribute to shared peace, security, and prosperity” also motivates Spain’s efforts “in support of the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Lebanon and Iraq, and guides our relations with our Gulf partners, both bilaterally and through the EU, with the aim of building a new regional security architecture that will allow us to integrate Iran into the region and end the war in Yemen, the consequences of which Oman knows and suffers.” “These are both issues in which Oman’s wise leadership and mediation are central and irreplaceable,” he emphasized. For his part, the Sultan of Oman highlighted in his speech “Spain’s political and economic leadership in Europe and the role it has played in promoting peace and justice” and expressed his desire that both countries could “work together to face global challenges” and “open broader horizons for cooperation, trade, investment, cultural and knowledge exchange and the promotion of dialogue between peoples.” The two monarchs will preside over a Spain-Oman business meeting on Wednesday at the Royal Palace of El Pardo, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business. That same day, the Sultan will be received by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, at the Moncloa Palace. <h5><strong>Albares and Memoranda of Understanding</strong></h5> On another note, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares met on Tuesday with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, to discuss issues of common interest and strengthen bilateral relations. In the meeting, the second between the two ministers after their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Week in 2024, Albares and Albusaidi addressed the bilateral relationship and the economic opportunities that Oman offers Spain. The Spanish Foreign Minister praised Oman's efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region and its role as a mediator between the United States and Iran. During the state visit, which will conclude on Wednesday, six memoranda of understanding will be signed for cooperation in the areas of transport and infrastructure, agriculture, livestock and food security, culture and sport, clean energy transition, management and protection of water resources and investments, in addition to a reciprocal visa exemption treaty for diplomatic, special and service passports.
