GS Paper II

News Excerpt: 

Recently, India and Oman signed an agreement that would provide a framework for collaboration in new areas of defence engagement.

More about the News:

• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting in Muscat.
• The two sides also comprehensively reviewed their defence cooperation and explored ways to boost their shared strategic interests.
• Both countries also discussed the overall situation in West Asia, including security concerns arising out of the targeting of cargo vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi militants.

Key Points of JMCC held between India and Oman:

• During the meeting, the discussion took place on new areas of cooperation such as training, joint exercise, information sharing, oceanography, shipbuilding and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) facilities that would build mutual trust and interoperability between militaries of both nations.
• Both sides discussed effective and practical initiatives to boost further bilateral defence engagements focusing on defence industry collaboration.
• An MoU on procurement of defence material was signed, following the joint vision document titled 'A Partnership for the Future'.

Importance of Oman for India:

• While people-to-people contact between India and Oman can be traced back 5000 years, diplomatic relations were established in 1955, and the relationship was upgraded to Strategic partnership in 2008.
• Oman is one of India's closest defence partners in the Gulf region, and defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two sides.
• Oman is the first Gulf country with which all three wings of India’s defence forces hold joint exercises.
• Joint Military Exercise Al Najaf 
• Naval Exercise Naseem Al Bahr 
• Air Force Exercise Eastern Bridge
• In recent years, both countries have cooperated to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean and Gulf regions. 
• The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. 
• India and Oman are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations. 
• There are about 624,000 Indians in Oman (February 2021), of which about 4,83,901 are workers and professionals (May 2021). 
• Negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Oman are also going on, and an FTA is likely to be signed in the near future. 

About Oman:

• Oman is a country occupying the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula at the confluence of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
• Much of the country’s interior falls within the sandy, treeless, and largely waterless region of the Arabian Peninsula known as the Rub-al-Khali. 
• The region is still the domain of Bedouin nomads, although today, it is also crisscrossed by oil and gas pipelines.
• In contrast to the stark interior, the coastal regions are much more hospitable. Oman’s northern coast lies between the sea and inland mountains. 
• This verdant, fertile region is known for its grapes and other produce, as is the Dhofar region in the country’s south. 

• The capital, Muscat, lies along the northern coast. Blending modern and traditional architecture, the city commands a view of the Gulf of Oman and serves as a port and commercial centre.

Conclusion:

The recent India-Oman defence collaboration marks a significant stride in their strategic partnership. The signed MoU, encompassing diverse areas such as joint exercises, training, and information sharing, reflects a commitment to mutual trust and interoperability. As Oman emerges as a key defence ally, the strengthened ties further contribute to regional security and reinforce the enduring friendship between the two nations.