Antony J. Blinken Secretary of State | Official website
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the U.S. Department of State Jose W. Fernandez and His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa al-Harthy, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry of Oman, met in Washington on April 24, 2024, for the Second U.S.-Oman Strategic Dialogue.
During the dialogue, the two sides discussed various aspects of the bilateral partnership, focusing on trade and investment, clean energy, and education, culture, and science. Fernandez welcomed Sheikh Khalifa to Washington, highlighting the importance of the Strategic Dialogue in advancing cooperation between the United States and Oman.
A key point of discussion was the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both sides celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of its signing. Emphasis was placed on leveraging the FTA to strengthen economic ties and support Oman's Vision 2040 goals. Private sector engagement was highlighted as a crucial element in promoting trade and investment, with a specific focus on sectors such as information and communication technology services, semiconductors, and clean energy.
The dialogue also explored collaboration in clean energy solutions, including carbon capture, use, and storage technologies. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to environmental cooperation and enhancing scientific research on clean energy.
Furthermore, the importance of cultural and educational exchanges was underscored, with discussions on expanding opportunities for students and scholars in fields like artificial intelligence, clean energy, and higher education.
Both the United States and the Sultanate of Oman expressed their commitment to maintaining high-level bilateral visits, with plans to schedule the next round of the Strategic Dialogue in 2025. The dialogue concluded with a shared vision of strengthening the partnership between the two nations across various sectors.
