Vivian Balakrishnan stresses importance of free transit through Strait of Hormuz during Gulf visit

In Oman, Dr Balakrishnan met Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamood Al Busaidi and Minister of Royal Office General Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Nomani. 

The ministers talked about a range of bilateral issues, including efforts to deepen cooperation in areas including logistics, energy security, maritime governance and the digital economy.

Dr Balakrishnan conveyed Singapore’s appreciation for Oman’s facilitation of two repatriation flights for Singaporeans and their dependents from Muscat on Mar 7 and Mar 8.

He also thanked Saudi Arabia for its help in facilitating two other repatriation flights from Riyadh and Jeddah on Mar 10 and Mar 12, when he met Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud.

Dr Balakrishnan expressed Singapore’s appreciation to the Kingdom for ensuring the safety and security of Singaporean pilgrims for the upcoming Haj.

Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of Singapore and Saudi Arabia’s existing strategic partnership and explored ways to further ties in trade and investment, energy security, logistics and connectivity.

In Qatar, Dr Balakrishnan held talks with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in economic resilience, defence and food and energy security.