Paris – The inaugural session of the Strategic Dialogue between the Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic took place in the French capital, Paris, on April 15. The Omani delegation was led by H E Sheikh Khalifa Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Foreign Ministry, while the French side was headed by Martin Briens, Secretary-General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed the profound strategic partnership and friendship that exists between the two nations across various sectors.

The dialogue involved an extensive review of bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on the economic and investment sectors, energy security, culture, and education. Both sides expressed a shared desire to advance these relations toward more sophisticated levels of collaboration. Furthermore, the representatives exchanged perspectives on several regional and international issues, specifically discussing the current situation in the Gulf region. They emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective methods for resolving challenges and urged all parties to return to the negotiating table to achieve sustainable peace.

In conjunction with the strategic session, the two governments signed a formal agreement concerning work permits for the spouses of official employees. This agreement was signed by H E Sheikh Khalifa and Martin Briens. The meeting was attended by senior diplomats from both countries, including the Omani Ambassador to France and the French Ambassador to Oman, highlighting the significant diplomatic weight of this bilateral engagement.