Oman

Within a region growing increasingly dangerous by the year, Oman stands out as a state that has successfully preserved its sovereignty and protected its domestic stability by actively maintaining a neutral position in an increasingly polarised regional contest.

On November 18, 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry took the highly unusual step of attending the Omani national day celebration in Washington, DC.

There is probably too much conjecture and outright guesswork about the Omani succession process and not enough about the genuine challenges that the sultanate and its people must face with Qaboos – however long he continues to govern – and ultimately under his successor.

Most observers of the current nuclear negotiations with Iran have focused on the scope and timing of sanctions relief. Tehran insists that sanctions be immediately lifted once a final deal is reached; Washington seeks a gradual phase-out. Lost in the discussion is the fact that few countries have as much at stake in the outcome...