On Tuesday, October 18, 2026, Oman signed a commitment to maintain freedom of navigation as part of an EU initiative. This commitment comes in response to growing concerns about threats to shipping in international waters, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
Details of Oman's Commitment and Participating Countries
The countries that have joined this commitment do not include the United States and have not garnered the support of the CRINK group (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea). Besides Oman, other countries that have joined this commitment include the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, Canada, the Philippines, the Yemeni government, and Japan. This commitment has also received support from Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries that have direct interests in maintaining safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Purpose and Implications of the Commitment
The signatory countries have committed to multilateral cooperation, particularly the oversight and coordination provided by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These countries have also rejected mandatory and unilateral actions, such as Iran's campaign against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and oppose actions that could disrupt lawful navigation.
The Ministry of Transport of Oman had previously issued guidelines regarding the passage and presence of vessels in its territorial waters before the onset of the conflict. This guide includes the requirement to request permission and other regulations to ensure that the presence of foreign vessels is not abused. Oman's Maritime Security Center has informed the commercial shipping community that AIS (Automatic Identification System) must be turned on and that conditions for carrying weapons and restrictions for safe passage must be adhered to.
Given the high costs of maintaining navigation aid networks and search and rescue services, the requirement to request permission could be a way to recoup some of these costs. Oman has always adhered to its commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the right to safe passage for shipping. Oman's permanent representative to the IMO has also repeatedly emphasized this commitment.
Following Iran's efforts to impose a control regime over the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf countries called for the postponement of the planned conference for September 14 in Salalah. Currently, there does not appear to be any progress towards any new agreement, but it can be assumed that discussions are ongoing.
The signatory countries are seeking to restore the previous Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Oman will amend its MTCIT 30/2026 guidelines to align with the signing of the EU commitment.
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