The European Union signed an establishment agreement on 21 July 2026 to open a full diplomatic delegation in Muscat, Oman, marking a milestone in EU-Oman relations and expanding the bloc's diplomatic footprint in the Gulf region. High Representative Kaja Kallas, speaking at the signing ceremony with Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, said the delegation is "long overdue" and signals the EU's commitment to Oman, the Gulf, and stronger security partnerships.
The agreement comes as the war between the US and Iran intensifies, with rising casualties and a collapse of diplomatic channels. Kallas expressed the EU's full solidarity with Oman following attacks on its territory and on commercial shipping off its coast, and stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to shipping without tolls or fees after the war. She noted that last week EU and Gulf representatives discussed cooperation on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where the Houthi threat persists and EU naval operation ASPIDES continues to protect shipping.
Oman, strategically located at the crossroads of the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea, is a key maritime trade hub and an indispensable actor for regional stability, Kallas said. The EU currently has 145 delegations worldwide, and the new mission in Muscat will deepen political dialogue and expand cooperation. The EU is ready to appoint an ambassador to Oman as soon as possible.
The opening of the delegation strengthens the EU's diplomatic presence in a region critical for energy security and trade, while also providing a platform for crisis management and conflict mediation. For Oman, the enhanced EU engagement offers economic and security benefits, but also ties it more closely to EU positions on regional conflicts, potentially straining relations with other actors. The move bolsters the EU's role as a geopolitical actor in the Middle East, though it also increases its exposure to regional instability. For EU member states, the delegation represents a shared investment in diplomatic infrastructure, but may raise questions about resource allocation amid other global priorities.