India and Oman Strengthen Defence Ties Through 12th Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting

Muscat: Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane co-chaired the 12th Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting with Oman’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi, in Muscat on January 31, 2024.

The meeting marked a significant milestone as both sides reviewed and acknowledged the robust defence cooperation between India and Oman. The JMCC meeting explored new avenues of collaboration in training, joint exercises, information sharing, oceanography, and shipbuilding, aiming to enhance mutual trust and interoperability between the militaries of both nations. Additionally, discussions covered regional and global issues of shared interest, focusing on effective initiatives to bolster bilateral defence engagements, with a particular emphasis on collaboration in defence industries.

Implementing the India-Oman Joint Vision Document titled ‘A Partnership for the Future,’ adopted during the visit of Sultan Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik in December 2023, the Defence Secretary and Secretary General signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the procurement of Defence Material and Equipment. This MoU establishes a framework for a new era of defence collaboration.

During the bilateral talks, Shri Giridhar Aramane highlighted India’s domestic defence industry’s potential and looked forward to a fruitful partnership with the Armed Forces of Oman. The Omani side expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Indian defence industry. The Defence Secretary extended an invitation to the Secretary General and his delegation to visit India, offering them the opportunity to witness India’s defence industrial capabilities, especially in aerospace and maritime sectors.

The two-day visit to Oman, from January 30-31, 2024, strengthened the longstanding defence cooperation between India and Oman. Oman remains one of India’s closest defence partners in the Gulf region, and their collaboration in the defence sector is a crucial pillar of the strategic partnership. The commitment to work under the vision of a strategic partnership reflects the shared determination of both countries to deepen their ties across various domains.