Four centuries ago, at the height of Portuguese imperialism, Oman began a defining struggle for liberation under the leadership of Imam Nassir bin Murshid Al Yarubi. This effort eventually freed Oman’s coastal towns, parts of the Gulf, and East Africa from a brutal colonisation that lasted nearly 140 years.
The scars of that era — devastated towns and the brutal treatment of Omani people — remain part of our collective memory. During a recent visit to charming Lisbon, home of the world’s largest emerging technologies Web Summit, I was reminded of this history when I saw a plaque in a lavish royal palace that read, “financed by gains from the colonies.”
The prosperity of the Portuguese empire was built on wealth extracted from its colonies, including Oman. This reminder underscores that geopolitical orders, past and present, have lasting impacts. Today, we see similar dynamics playing out, but in different forms.
As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, Oman finds itself in a region witnessing the emergence of a new global disorder. The expansionist ambitions of the illegal Israeli occupation as declared by the UN’s International Court of Justice, supported by Western powers, are a clear signal of a new geopolitical agenda already unfolding. These forces aim to establish long-term brutal dominance over the region.
To thrive in this emerging world order, Oman must focus on three key areas: education, emerging technologies, and regional cooperation. These pillars will be critical as we confront both unprecedented challenges and opportunities.
The new world disorder is marked by aggressive attempts to control the region through emerging technologies. By 2025, Oman and its neighbours will likely face increasing pressure on two fronts: an insistence on submitting to Israeli supremacist, colonial settler policies through educational curricula and growing reliance on Western technologies, which we learned now are compromised.
The recent cyber-attacks on Lebanon, where Israeli occupation forces exploited vulnerabilities in communication systems, serve as a stark warning of the dangers of technological dependence.
To safeguard our future, Oman will benefit from investing in sustainable and resilient emerging tech human and technical capabilities. Building reliable capabilities and securing procurement and supply chains will ensure that we are not left vulnerable to colonial, supremacist powers, again. The strategic importance of these investments cannot be overstated.
Since the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with several Western powers and its abrupt and undiplomatic repeal by the same powers, regional power dynamics have been in constant movement.
More recently, a wave of targeted assassinations — many enabled by AI-driven technologies — has further escalated tensions. The illegal Israeli Occupation strikes have taken the lives of key Arab and Iranian heads of state, senior ministers, and resistance figures in Lebanon and Palestine.
As Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi emphasised, this cycle of violence is unsustainable. Oman’s long-standing position as a voice for peace and diplomacy is not only morally right but strategically necessary. We understand, as history has shown, that peace cannot be achieved through force alone.
Globally, we are witnessing an unprecedented rise in dissent. From Western capitals to university campuses, millions are challenging political regimes that no longer represent their people. The digital age has empowered citizens to expose fake rhetoric about 'working tirelessly for a ceasefire' in real-time, and the well-documented war crimes of the genocide in Palestine and Lebanon, broadcast globally, have ignited a new wave of resistance against the illegal Israeli occupation and its accomplices in the U.S., UK, EU, and the our region.
For Oman, this global unrest presents both a challenge and an opportunity. On the one hand, we must remain vigilant against unwise external powers treating destabilising the region as an experimental scenario, with a total disregard for our lives.
On the other, we must stand firm in our principles, just as we did against the Portuguese in 1624. Our condemnation of illegal occupation and colonisation, whether in the past or present, reflects our unwavering commitment to international law and justice.
As the world tilts toward a new disorder, Oman is uniquely positioned to navigate these turbulent times. Our history of resisting colonisation, our dedication to peace, and our investments in education and technology equip us to not only survive but thrive in this new era. We understand, that the seeds we plant today will shape the future for generations to come.
In this moment of global upheaval, Oman’s voice remains one of reason, peace, and resilience. We have faced these challenges before, and each time, we emerged stronger.
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