The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India

Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Monday met with Commander Royal Navy of Oman (CRNO) Rear Admiral Saif Al-Rahbi and discussed avenues for further enhancing cooperation between both Navies.

A tweet by the Spokesperson of the Indian Navy said that the two highlighted the historical relations between both maritime nations.

The Commander of Royal Navy of Oman (CRNO) Rear Admiral Saif Al Rahbi, who is visiting India from February 14-18, was accorded a 50-men Guard of Honour at the South Block lawns in New Delhi.

The Commander of Royal Navy of Oman also met with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and discussed enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and maritime security, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region).

“Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla met visiting Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman Rear Admiral Saif Nasser Al Rahbi. Both referred to the long history of India-Oman maritime cooperation. Discussed enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and maritime security, guided by PM’s vision of SAGAR,” said a tweet by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important interlocutor at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora.

In May last year, India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation along with its annexure as well as on maritime issues.

The signing ceremony of MoU on military cooperation was held at the Ministry of Defense, Muscat.

Earlier this month, Secretary General at the Ministry of Defence, Oman Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Ali Al–Zaabi called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries.

The Omani Secretary General also briefed Singh about the 11th India–Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting (JMCC) on bilateral defence cooperation which was held in New Delhi on January 31.