REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE 2000 U.S.-OMAN ACCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000162

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, PM, L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2028
TAGS: PARM PREL MOPS KTIA MU
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE 2000 U.S.-OMAN ACCESS
AGREEMENT

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4.


2. (C) The Port of Sohar is the only commercial port in Oman
with deepwater berths capable of accommodating an aircraft
carrier. It is located 150 miles northwest of Muscat and 90
miles west by northwest from al-Musanah airbase, the new
Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) facility currently under
construction. The United States Air Force intends to begin
moving its war reserve materials currently stored at Seeb
International Airport in Muscat to al-Musanah in the near
future. Once this move occurs, U.S. Navy access to the Port
of Sohar will become critical for the U.S. Air Force mission
in Oman and the region. In addition, CENTAF is prepared to
immediately place "virtual afloat" pre-positioned war reserve
material in Sohar. The Port of Sohar is of strategic
importance as it provides access to the entire Arabian
Peninsula, as well as to the Gulf of Oman and the waterways
between the coast of Pakistan and the Horn of Africa, without
requiring transit of the Strait of Hormuz.


3. (C) The government of Oman conscientiously adheres to the
U.S.-Oman Access Agreement, which serves as a cornerstone for
much of our bilateral military-to-military cooperation
programs. The current Agreement is under review by both U.S.
and Oman for renewal in 2010. Since the Port of Sohar is not
one of the facilities covered by the Agreement, however,
Omani government ministries involved in U.S. ship visits are
technically not authorized to approve or support U.S.
military vessels seeking to berth in Sohar. In informal
discussions, the Oman military has expressed its support for
adding the Port of Sohar to the Access Agreement, but also
has made clear that this needs to be done by a formal
amendment to the document. The U.S. Department of Defense
intends to propose adding Sohar to the new Agreement when
renewed in 2010; however, until the new Agreement is signed,
an amendment will be needed to support U.S. Navy ship visits
to the Port of Sohar if U.S. naval vessels are to seek access
there in the next two years.


4. (C) Action Request: Embassy Muscat requests that the USG
immediately seek an amendment to Annex A of the 2000 Access
Agreement between the U.S. and the Sultanate of Oman adding
the Port of Sohar to the list of covered facilities until
such time that the Agreement is renegotiated for renewal in

2010. Embassy is prepared to follow up immediately with
Omani authorities once formal guidance is received. End
Action Request.
GRAPPO