Progress never comes easy — especially in the Middle East. That is why much credit is due to the late Sultan Qaboos of Oman, who died this past Friday. A patron of progress and peace, an ally of the West, and a visionary, Sultan Qaboos potentially primed the Persian Gulf for its ongoing renaissance, which remains characterized by increasing progress, tolerance, and pro-Western sentiment. For this, he deserves plaudits.
Sultan Qaboos was destined for ushering change — he beat to a different tune, ascending the throne as a possibly <a href="https://www.albawaba.com/node/was-omans-late-sultan-only-gay-monarch-world-and-why-do-people-care-1332272">gay</a> man whose colorful <a href="https://apnews.com/d5bb9597cc96b6ab7a6e73fd87d72f30">clothes</a> illuminated the hostile environment he inherited. Then, slavery <a href="https://apnews.com/d5bb9597cc96b6ab7a6e73fd87d72f30">existed</a> and Omani <a href="https://apnews.com/d5bb9597cc96b6ab7a6e73fd87d72f30">law</a> banned electricity, radios, eyeglasses, and even umbrellas. Under Sultan Qaboos, these realities quickly became no more. He advanced Omani society, transforming it from one previously rooted in extreme traditionalism to one that, while outward-looking in nature, maintained a relatively <a href="https://apnews.com/9ca4a9910ede3e11b2fbf085189e628b">non-interventionist</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/9ca4a9910ede3e11b2fbf085189e628b">persona</a>. Under Qaboos, Oman became one of the world’s <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Oman.html">safest</a> and <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/211rank.html">wealthiest</a> countries, and it now celebrates higher purchasing power parity per capita rates than Finland. He also provided Oman stability, ruling since 1970 and thereby becoming the region’s <a href="https://apnews.com/9ca4a9910ede3e11b2fbf085189e628b">longest</a> ruling head of state. In sum, he put Oman on a stable path that produced tremendous social and economic progress.
Qaboos&#8217; aspirations for progress were also regional in scope, advancing the cause of peace. He negotiated and <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/11/14/oman-the-worlds-hostage-negotiator/">secured</a> the release of Western hostages in neighboring countries, often dipping into his own pocket to do so. And while he maintained economic and political <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/05/09/oman-in-the-middle/">ties</a> with Iran, he also leveraged his relationship for good, using his influence to help <a href="https://apnews.com/d5bb9597cc96b6ab7a6e73fd87d72f30">free</a> Westerners detained therein.
Qaboos, while idealistic at times, did propel stronger ties with the West. Qaboos, a “close ally,” advanced U.S. military interests, allowing the U.S. access to two strategic ports and an “overland <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/03/29/u-s-and-oman-sign-strategic-port-agreement/">route</a> that would enable … forces [in future conflict] to reach the Persian Gulf without transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” The Strait of Hormuz, which has been <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/03/29/u-s-and-oman-sign-strategic-port-agreement/">subject</a> to the threat of closures by Iran, remains one of the world’s most important bodies of water, “through which 30% of all seaborne crude oil shipments pass.” He also <a href="https://www.sqcc.org/Arabic-Language-Program/SABLA-Summer-Arabic-Language-Immersion.aspx">sponsored</a> American students to learn Arabic in Oman, thereby fostering stronger future ties between the two countries.
Most radically, Qaboos challenged the status quo, openly associating and largely normalizing (albeit still unofficial) ties with Israel. In 2018, Qaboos invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Muscat, the first invitation extended to an Israeli premier in <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/oman-says-it-will-open-embassy-in-west-bank/">20 years</a>. And while greeting Netanyahu later in Warsaw at a security conference that highlighted the Iranian security threat, Qaboos implied the need to recognize Israel. He boldly <a href="https://youtu.be/5DH6mic4iz8?t=55">proclaimed</a> before a media entourage, “people in the Middle East have suffered a lot because they stick to the past. I will now say this is a new era for the future.” According to the head of the Mossad, Israeli-Omani ties have since <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20190701-israel-renewing-oman-ties-opportunity-more-spy-chief">culminated</a> in the “renewal of formal relations” and a “representative office of the [Israeli] foreign ministry” in Oman. While Oman has <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/oman-says-it-will-open-embassy-in-west-bank/">denied</a> such claims, it now allows Israel’s national airline to use Omani <a href="https://www.apnews.com/b9c267a0517f4b808550d44463b9c3aa">airspace</a> and has invited Israeli officials to discuss the possibility of a <a href="https://www.apnews.com/b877d933d9994e7a85a881c81ad59b2e">rail</a> connecting Israel with the Gulf states. Hence, through nourishing ties with the U.S., and de-stigmatizing its ally Israel, Qaboos’ Oman spearheaded progress, peace, and its U.S. alliance.
Other neighboring countries have seemingly followed Qaboos’ example of social reform and heightened tolerance. In recent years, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia, Oman’s neighbor, has imitated Sultan Qaboos and his reforms — <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/the-paradox-of-saudi-arabias-social-reforms/">allowing</a> women to drive, legalizing movie theaters, curbing religious police, and also <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/saudi-prince-israelis-have-the-right-to-have-their-own-land-1.5974278">de facto</a> recognizing of Israel. Recently, MBS <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/saudi-prince-israelis-have-the-right-to-have-their-own-land-1.5974278">noted</a> that “the Israelis have the right to have their own land.” The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have also seemingly followed Oman’s lead. Key leaders have hosted Israeli diplomats and <a href="https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-minister-calls-for-open-communication-with-israel-1.64872601">media</a> at <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/signs-of-warming-ties-as-israeli-ministers-head-to-gulf">conferences</a> and have also <a href="https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/UAE-Foreign-Minister-Very-wrong-decision-not-to-have-contact-with-Israel-585051">idealized</a> the <a href="https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/6/26/bahrain-fm-hints-at-normalising-ties-with-israel">potential</a> of official ties with Israel. While it is uncertain whether Qaboos directly inspired these results, he certainly paved the path that many now seem to follow. It should therefore be no coincidence that the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51082415">heads</a> of state of Bahrain, Israel, and the UAE, as well as the crown prince of <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/01/11/Saudi-Arabia-s-King-Crown-Prince-send-message-to-Oman-s-Sultan-Haitham.html">Saudi Arabia</a> have reflected on Sultan Qaboos’ death or have sent condolences.
While the future of the Middle East remains uncertain, Oman’s future appears somewhat optimistic. Its new leader, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, has pledged to reinforce his predecessor’s vision: “We will follow the same line as the late sultan, and the principles that he asserted for the foreign policy of our country, of peaceful coexistence among nations and people, and good neighborly behavior.” So long as the new sultan keep his promise, America can rest assured of a forecast of impending peace and progress — a vision that could magnify throughout the region.
&nbsp;
Jordan Cope is currently a law student at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also completed his undergraduate degree. Having graduated with a B.A. in international relations, Jordan also minored in Middle Eastern studies and can speak Arabic and Hebrew. He has also published research on the security implications of Palestinian foreign aid. He can be followed <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanCope12">@JordanCope12</a>.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

COPE: A Tribute To Omani Sultan Qaboos, Ally And Patron Of Progress

CONTINUE READING

COPE: The True Motives Of Palestinian Leadership, Corruption, And Ethnic Cleansing

COPE: Expel Erdogan, His Terror, And His Ethnic Cleansing From NATO

COPE: Academia And Think Tanks Must Boycott Qatar

COPE: Defeating Hezbollah Requires Economic Warfare, Too

News and Commentary

Foreign Policy

Middle East

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News and Commentary —

COPE: A Tribute To Omani Sultan Qaboos, Ally And Patron Of Progress