(L- R) Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman; Credit: MAEE

On Tuesday 16 May 2023, the Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, paid a working visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

His counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, received Minister Asselborn in Muscat for a working meeting.

The ministers took stock of bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Oman. In this context, they welcomed the last years’ developments, which have seen a strengthening of collaboration in several areas, such as air services, investments, satellite communication and connectivity. According to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the visit made it possible to explore new avenues of cooperation while deepening existing collaboration. Minister Asselborn also addressed the human rights situation.

The ministers then looked at the regional situation and, in particular, the latest developments in Yemen, Iran and Syria, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Minister Asselborn hailed the important mediating role played by Oman in various Middle Eastern crises, thanking his counterpart in particular for the efforts undertaken to find a peaceful solution to the war in Yemen.

The exchange more particularly enabled Minister Asselborn to discuss with his Omani counterpart recent regional developments following the "reconciliation" between Iran and Saudi Arabia on the one hand, and the desire for normalisation of the Arab States with the Assad regime, on the other.

The Russian war against Ukraine was also on the agenda. The visit took place in the wider context of the European Union's efforts to engage more with third countries outside Europe on this violation of international law and the Charter of United Nations that constitutes the Russian war of aggression. In this regard, Minister Asselborn briefed his counterpart on the various aspects of the European Union's response to the Russian war.

Finally, the working visit to Muscat was also an opportunity for Minister Asselborn to meet Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, Minister and Chairman of the sovereign wealth fund Oman Investment Authority, to discuss investments in Luxembourg and future collaborations.