New Delhi, Feb 14 (Agency) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday met visiting Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman Rear Admiral Saif Nasser Al Rahbi, during which the two sides discussed enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and maritime security. The top Omani Naval official’s visit comes days after India and Oman held the 11th meeting of the Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) in New Delhi on January 31, during which they discussed ways to enhance military cooperation and exchange experiences between the armed forces of both countries. Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, Secretary General at Oman’s Ministry of Defence, participated in the talks with Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar.
On Monday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet said: “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 maritime cooperation. “Discussed enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and maritime security, guided by PM’s vision of SAGAR.” The Rear Admiral Mohsin Al Rahbi later also called on Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane.
Oman is India’s oldest strategic partner in the Gulf region and a key ally in the Indo-Pacific region and eastern and southern Africa. In 2018 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat, the two sides had signed an agreement giving the Indian Navy access to facilities at Oman’s Duqm port. India had also signed a maritime transport agreement in December 2019 during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to the Oman. It was the first such agreement that India had signed with any Gulf nation.