November 14, 2011: Today, Foreign Policy featured an article titled “Oman: The world’s hostage negotiator,” after the magazine learned that the Omani government helped negotiate the release of three French aid workers held by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen. This isn’t the first time Oman has helped in a hostage situation. In both 2010 and fall of 2011, Oman paid large sums to Iran for the release of 3 American hikers.
America’s friendly relationship with Oman dates back to at least 1841, when Oman became the first Arab nation to recognize the U.S. The sultanate has a free trade agreement with the U.S. and has permitted American forces to use its military bases in the past.
Here is the article from Foreign Policy magazine: Oman: The world’s hostage negotiator.
