India, Oman strengthen Defence Ties
According to a statement released by the Defence Ministry, India and Oman on Sunday signed four key agreements focusing on defence cooperation. During the Defence Minister's visit to Oman, both countries observed that their bilateral strategic partnership relies on defence cooperation. Manohar Parrikar visited Oman from May 20-22 at the invitation of minister of Defence Affairs Badr Bin Saud Bin Harib Al Busaidi.
Trade and people-to-people ties between India and Oman have been existing since several millenia. The first Ambassador of India arrived in Muscat in 1973 and the Embassy of Oman was established in New Delhi in 1976. Both countries conducted joint military exercises in 2006 and signed a defense agreement thereafter. Politically, Oman has always supported permanent membership of India at the UN Security Council.
Some prominent existing bilateral agreements between the Republic of India and Sultanate of Oman are MoUs on Combating Crime, Cooperation in Agriculture, Civil Aviation, Cultural Cooperation, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection, Treaty of Extradition etc.
Manohar Parrikar met Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, and the Minister of Royal Office Lt Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu'aman along with the defence minister. He was accompanied by a delegation of high-level government officials and industrialists. He visited the Military Technology College and the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum. He also attended a reception at Sultan Qaboos Port.
India and Oman exchanged views on regional developments of mutual interest. All aspects of bilateral defence cooperation, including enhanced military to military exchanges, were discussed. The four MoUs signed focused on boosting cooperation in defence, crime prevention at sea, martime issues and flight safety information exchange. It was agreed that the two sides would further expand and consolidate their ongoing bilateral defence cooperation.
Visits at the highest level have been exchanged frequently between India and Oman. Four Prime Ministers have visited the Sultanate: Rajiv Gandhi (1985), P. V. Narasimha Rao (1993), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998) and Dr. Manmohan Singh (2008). His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said visited India in 1997. Ministerial level visits have also taken place regularly.
