Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, Secretary General at the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Defense left Muscat Sunday heading to the Republic of India, to lead the Omani side in the 11th meeting of the Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) between the Ministries of Defense of the two countries.
The meeting was held in New Delhi from 31 January to 1 February 2022.
The Secretary General was accompanied during the visit by a military delegation comprising of senior officers from the Ministry of Defense and the Sultan’s Armed Forces, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported. The Omani delegation will depart India on February 3.
The Omani official is the Executive Head of the Sultanate’s defense establishment, while Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Shihab holds the charge as its Minister.
Al Zaabi called on Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (photo). A statement said both parties “discussed ways to enhance defense cooperation between the two countries”.
Al Zaabi also briefed Singh about the 11th India–Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting (JMCC) on bilateral defense cooperation which was held on January 31, co-chaired by Al Zaabi and Indian Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar, The Indian Express reported.
India and Oman agreed to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for joint ventures to enhance the defense industry cooperation between the two countries. Oman is an important partner for India, especially at a time when India is trying to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean Region. Oman is also the country’s strongest defense partner in the Gulf region.
The JMCC is the apex body between the Defense Ministries of India and Oman to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of bilateral defense cooperation.
During the meeting, the two sides “reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including joint exercises, industry cooperation and various ongoing infrastructure projects” and decided to “identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for Joint Venture in order to enhance defense industry cooperation”. They also discussed conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise “involving the three services and enhancing the scope and complexities of the existing joint exercises,” the statement mentioned, and added that both the countries “agreed to work together to combat the issue of drug trafficking prevalent in the North Arabian Sea.”
It was also agreed that the next JMCC will be held in Oman at dates convenient for both sides. The JMCC is meant to meet every year, but because of the pandemic and other factors, it had a three-year break after the last meeting in 2018 in Oman.
Al Zaabi also met the Chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, and leaders of India’s defense industry. He also visited Cochin Shipyard Limited, Military Training Establishments and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant, during his trip.
Defense ties with Oman are significant for India for many reasons. All three services have bilateral exchanges and exercises with Oman’s services, and the country provides operational support to the Indian Navy for anti-piracy missions in the Arabian Sea.
Also, India had got access to the Duqm port in Oman, strengthening India’s capability and maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean Region, especially against China’s aggressive advance in the region.
