Russian official: Moscow ready to deepen bilateral cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman in the security field

Moscow, October 20 (KUNA) -- Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu affirmed on Tuesday his country’s readiness to deepen bilateral security cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman and assist it in protecting its territory. Shoigu, speaking during consultations with the Secretary-General of Oman’s National Security Council, Idris Al-Kandari, in Moscow, said that “challenges related to safeguarding Omani territory have taken on a new character, requiring urgent handling,” and stressed that Russia would do its utmost to support Oman in this regard. According to the consultations, both sides plan to open military attaché offices at the Russian Embassy in Muscat and the Omani Embassy in Moscow in the near future, thereby strengthening military communication and coordination channels between the two countries. The two sides also signed a roadmap to deepen bilateral security cooperation for the period 2026–2028, aiming to develop the legal framework governing relations between Moscow and Muscat and to define practical steps to enhance joint cooperation. On the economic front, Shoigu said that bilateral trade between Russia and Oman reached $1.5 billion during the first seven months of 2026, representing a 22-fold increase compared to the same period last year, describing this level as the highest in the past decade. He emphasized that “Moscow and Muscat possess the necessary potential to continue developing trade exchanges and achieving new record levels, thereby supporting the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.” (End) D.A.N. / N.A.A.