India and Oman Strengthen Maritime Defence Ties with 6th Edition of Staff Talks

New Delhi: In a significant move to bolster defence relations between India and Oman in the maritime domain, the 6th edition of Staff Talks between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) took place from June 4 to June 5, 2024, in New Delhi.

The Royal Navy of Oman delegation was led by Commodore Jasim Mohammed Ali Al Balushi, Director General of Operations and Plans. The Indian Navy delegation was headed by Commodore Manmeet Singh Khurana, Commodore (Foreign Cooperation). This series of Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks highlights the strong bilateral relations between these two historical maritime neighbours.

During the talks, both sides engaged in detailed discussions on common maritime security challenges, emphasizing the need for enhanced interoperability at sea. Key issues pertaining to operational collaboration, information sharing, Maritime Domain Awareness, training, meteorology, hydrography, and technical assistance were thoroughly deliberated upon.

The delegation from Oman also visited the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram and had an audience with Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

Oman remains one of India’s closest partners in the Gulf region, and the regular conduct of these Staff Talks is crucial in consolidating gains in naval cooperation and deepening the existing partnership between both navies.