Burnham and Oman’s sultan discuss keeping Strait of Hormuz open
The UK government says the leaders agreed on the need to keep the shipping route open and to strengthen defence and security cooperation during talks at Downing Street.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said at Downing Street on 21 October 2026, with the two leaders agreeing on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, according to the UK government. The government said they also agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation, making the shipping route and citizens’ safety central to their talks.
What the leaders said about the Strait of Hormuz
Burnham thanked Oman for its work to reopen the strait, the government said. Its account said both leaders wanted the route kept open to reduce pressure on global supply chains and ease the impact on people at home. The account described a shared position on the route, but gave no timetable or specific measures for keeping it open.
The Strait of Hormuz lies off Oman’s coast. In its report ahead of the meeting, the Evening Standard, carrying PA Wire text, described the route as effectively closed to oil tankers because of a blockade orchestrated by Tehran. That disruption gives the leaders’ discussion consequences beyond the UK and Oman, particularly for the movement of oil and other goods.
Trade and security in the UK–Oman relationship
The government said Burnham reaffirmed the UK’s close relationship with Oman and pointed to trade as a source of jobs and opportunities in both countries. It said the leaders agreed to continue working together to protect their citizens and strengthen existing cooperation on defence and security. They looked forward to meeting again soon, according to the government; it gave no date for another meeting.
Before the talks, Burnham called the relationship ‘a friendship which generates real benefits’ and named economic growth, security, defence and education among the countries’ shared priorities, according to the Standard’s PA Wire report. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Oman played a valued diplomatic role in supporting dialogue for regional stability at a critical time for the Middle East.
The sultan’s state visit to Britain
The Downing Street meeting formed part of the sultan’s three-day state visit to the UK. The Standard reported that the King and Queen welcomed him to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, at the start of the visit. It described this as the first UK state visit by a sultan of Oman in 44 years.
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Sources and context
- PM meeting with the Sultan of Oman: 21 October 2026Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
- Prime Minister to welcome Sultan of Oman to No 10 as part of state visit to UKEvening Standard (David Lynch; PA Wire credited for report text)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.