Major General Mattar Salim Al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) received in his office at Al Murtafa’a Garrison (photo) retired Major General Stephen McMahon, Head of the British Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) delegation.

The two sides reviewed a number of military topics and exchanged views on several matters of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Air Commodore Nasser Said Al Sa’adi, Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Joint Drills of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the Defence Attaché of the British Embassy at Muscat, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The RCDS delegation also visited the Maritime Security Centre (MSC). The Head of the delegation was accompanied by Air Commodore Nasser Said Al Sa’adi. The guest was greeted upon his arrival at the MSC by Commodore Mohammed Hamoud Al Zedjali, Head of the MSC.

Members of the visiting delegation were briefed on the tactical roles and tasks carried out by the Centre in the safety of the maritime environment. They also toured the Centre’s facilities and viewed its latest equipment and technologies used in carrying out its national duties.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Saif Nasser Al Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) received in his office Rear Admiral Jaswinder Singh, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence of the Republic of India.

The two sides reviewed naval fields of mutual interest and ways of enhancing cooperation between the two sides.

The meeting was attended by a number of senior RNO officers and the Military Attaché in the Indian embassy at Muscat.

In another development, His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Supreme Commander of the of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF)-Arab Army, has conferred the Order of the Military Merit (First Class) on Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis Al Ra’eesi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces.

The order was handed over to SAF Chief of Staff by Major General Yousef Ahmed Al-Huneiti, Chairman of the Jordanian Joint Chiefs of Staff, during their meeting in Amman earlier this week.