General Enzo Vecciarelli, Chief of Defense of the Italian Republic and his accompanying delegation arrived in Muscat Monday on an official several-day visit to the Sultanate.

The guest was received at A’Seeb Air Base by Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis al-Ra’eesi, Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), Brigadier Abdulaziz Abdullah al-Manthari, SAF Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Operations and Planning, several senior SAF officers, the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Sultanate and the Military Attaché of the Italian Embassy in Muscat.

On Tuesday, the Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) received in his office at Al Murtafa Camp (photo), the Chief of the Defense of the Italian Republic, and his accompanying delegation.

The two sides exchanged views on several military matters of common interest, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The meeting was attended by senior officers at SAF, the Italian ambassador to the Sultanate, and the Military Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Muscat.

For his part, General Sultan Mohammed al-Numani, Minister of the Royal Office also received Tuesday General Enzo Vecciarelli, Chief of Defense of the Italian Republic and his accompanying delegation.

Al-Numani stressed the strong relations between the two countries, and the progress seen by these relations in several spheres.

On his turn, General Vecciarelli expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Sultanate over its role at the regional and international levels.

The meeting also reviewed the march of good relations binding Oman with Italy. The two sides also discussed several matters of common interest.

The meeting was attended by Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis al-Ra’eesi, Chief-of- Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Sultanate.

Furthermore, the Chief of Defense of the Italian Republic, accompanied by the Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), visited the National Defense College (NDC) Tuesday.

Upon the guest’s arrival, he was received by Air Vice Marshal Saleh Yahya al-Maskari, NDC Commandant.

The guest and his accompanying delegation were briefed on the College’s facilities and equipment, as well as various departments and halls designed according to the latest specifications and equipped with the best educational systems, training aids and multi-purpose electronic network systems.

Lastly, General Enzo Vecciarelli, Chief of Defense of the Italian Republic and his accompanying delegation, also visited Tuesday the Maritime Security Center (MSC).

During the visit, the Italian military official was accompanied by Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis al-Ra’eesi, Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF).

Upon their arrival at the MSC, they were received by Rear Admiral Saif Nasser al-Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) and senior military officers.

The guest toured the Center’s facilities and viewed its latest equipment and technologies.

He was also briefed on the tactical roles and tasks carried out by the Center within its national duties, as it coordinates with relevant authorities in search and rescue missions and the safety of the maritime environment.