India and Oman: MoUs on military cooperation as well as on maritime security:
India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation as well as on maritime security.
India-Oman Relationship:
- The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important speaker at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora.
- India is a member of IORA but not a member of GCC and Arab League.
- India and Oman are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations, which are attributed to historical maritime trade linkages, the intimacy of the Royal family with India and the seminal role played by the Indian expatriate community in building Oman, which is acknowledged by the Omani Government.
- Institutional mechanisms like Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and Joint Business Council (JBC) oversee economic cooperation between the two.
- Key bilateral agreements/MoUs cover cooperation in Defence; peaceful uses of Outer Space; Extradition; Legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters; Agriculture; Civil Aviation; Avoidance of Double Taxation; Maritime issues; etc.
- In West Asia, Oman is one of India’s oldest defence partners and an ally in anti-piracy campaigns.
- India has supplied rifles to Oman. Also, India is considering setting up a defence production unit in Oman.
- India and Oman conduct regular biennial bilateral exercises between all three services.
- Army exercise: Al Najah
- Air Force exercise: Eastern Bridge
- Naval Exercise: Naseem Al Bahr
