Analysis

As US ties fray, top Oman official visits China: What to know

For Oman, recalibrating its ties with Washington after the Iran war means diversifying its partnerships — leaning more on European allies like France and deepening its relationship with China.

Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll

Jul 16, 2026

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Since President Donald Trump threatened in May to bomb Oman — a longtime US partner and historic mediator in Middle East conflicts — diplomatic traffic between Beijing and Muscat has increased.

Secretary-General of Oman’s National Security Council Idris Abdulrahman Al Kindi visited China just last week, less than a month after a meeting between Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi and China’s special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun.

As Muscat faces growing pressure from the Trump administration, could it be tilting east? 

On July 8, 2026, Vice Chinese Foreign Minister Miao Deyu met with Omani National Security Council Secretary-General Idris Abdulrahman Al Kindi.

A statement from China's Foreign Ministry following the meeting said that China "stands ready to work with the Omani side to continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, deepen the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Oman Vision 2040" and "jointly safeguard regional peace and stability."

The two officials also "had in-depth exchanges on regional hotspot issues of common concern," the ministry said. Al Kindi also met with Jin Xin, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, who told the Omani official that the IDCPC is "ready to develop exchanges........

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