The increased threat posed to European security by Russia has led to UK lawmakers intensifying scrutiny around British Army capabilities, which have been long been in the spotlight because of cancelled acquisitions, technical difficulties, contractor disputes, gross overspending and operational readiness issues.
John Major congratulated Qaboos, telling him ‘our commitment to Oman is unwavering’
Revelations come a year after Qaboos died, amid a debate over political ‘reforms’ announced by his successor
Newly declassified Foreign Office papers shed fresh light on the extent of Whitehall’s support for Qaboos bin Said al-Said, who became Sultan of Oman in 1970 after deposing his father in a coup led by British soldiers.
The files show that British ministers and officials welcomed the introduction of a repressive Basic Law in 1996 amid efforts to secure arms and energy contracts with the regime.
Following the coup, Sultan Qaboos ruled Oman for half a century until his death a year ago this week, by which time he was the Middle East’s longest-serving dictator. For the first two decades of his rule, Qaboos used British troops and mercenaries to suppress armed left-wing opponents in Dhofar, southern Oman.