A man rides a motorcycle past a wall of the Nizwa fort bearing a portrait of Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said in February. Oman is facing pressure from its larger neighbors to change its foreign policies.
Editor's Note : This assessment is part of a series of analyses supporting Stratfor's upcoming 2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast. These assessments are designed to provide more context and in-depth analysis on key developments to watch in the coming quarter. The Sultanate of Oman often gets tagged with the cliche of "sleepy" — in part because it has chosen to sit out nearly every major Middle Eastern war since gaining independence in 1971. Bolstered by its reputation for neutrality, it has become an effective diplomatic go-between for bigger powers, including the United States, Iran and Saudi Arabia, allowing it to become friendly to all and foe to none .
