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Joe Biden speaks with Oman ruler as China eyes stronger defence presence in Middle East

  • The US President’s phone discussion with the sultan comes after he was briefed about a Chinese plan to build a military facility in Oman
  • China says cooperation with Oman has ‘yielded fruitful results’ amid US concerns about Beijing’s plans to expand its defence presence in the region

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President Joe Biden, seen here in the Oval Office in 2021, has spoken with the sultan of Oman about China’s plans to increase its defence presence in the Middle East. Photo: TNS
Bloomberg
President Joe Biden spoke with the ruler of Oman, amid US concerns about China’s efforts to deepen its defence presence in the Middle East.
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Biden and Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the sultan of Oman, “committed to strengthening the long-standing US-Oman bilateral relationship and seeking new opportunities in trade and investment, security coordination, and cooperation towards a more prosperous Middle East region,” the White House said in a readout of the call on Friday.

Biden has been briefed on what his advisers see as a Chinese plan to build a military facility in Oman, according to people familiar with the matter, part of a broader effort by Beijing to deepen defence and diplomatic ties in the Middle East.

Biden was told Chinese military officials discussed the matter last month with Omani counterparts, who were said to be amenable to such a deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified to discuss private deliberations. The people said the two sides agreed to more talks in the coming weeks.

The White House readout made no mention of the China concerns.
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The precise location of the possible military facility or what it would house is not known. One of the people familiar with the matter described the Chinese role as more of a military presence than an actual facility or base.

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