Madrid, Spain – H M Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, held a pivotal bilateral meeting this morning at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, signalling a strong commitment to strengthening ties. The leaders reviewed the long-standing historical relations and explored avenues for deepening cooperation, before convening an expanded official session of talks.

In an address, His Majesty welcomed the opportunity to inaugurate a “promising new chapter” in Omani-Spanish relations. He noted satisfaction with the advancement of trade and investment, particularly the establishment of Omani-Spanish private funds, and highlighted the mutual interest in expanding collaboration. A key focus was the energy sector, with His Majesty reaffirming Oman’s readiness to expand collaboration in green hydrogen initiatives, leveraging Spain’s expertise to align with Oman Vision 2040’s push for economic diversification and a sustainable green economy. Other areas for enhanced cooperation identified include food security and aquaculture, clean energy and infrastructure, healthcare and sustainable tourism, and logistics, industrial, and manufacturing sectors.

In a noteworthy moment on international affairs, His Majesty expressed “deep appreciation” for the Spanish government’s “principled stance” in advocating the just Palestinian cause, particularly its decision to recognise the Palestinian state. He further lauded Prime Minister Sánchez’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and his condemnation of the actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The session concluded with both sides hopeful that the meeting would yield “substantive practical measures” to enhance economic relations and partnership.