India & Oman push defence & maritime partnership

India and its oldest strategic partner in the Gulf Oman have pushed its partnership in defence, energy, maritime and investment sectors at a high meeting meeting held in New Delhi.

The 13th round of the India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting was held on Tuesday. The meeting was co-chaired by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, and Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sultanate of Oman. Space is another sector where Oman is interested to collaborate with India.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political and strategic cooperation, trade and investment, energy, maritime and defence partnership, digital collaboration, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties.

They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. It was agreed to hold the next round of IOSCG in Muscat on a mutually convenient date.

Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy also paid a courtesy call on External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar.

India and Oman share warm and friendly relations, underpinned by historical and cultural linkages, strong people-to-people ties and a robust strategic partnership. The 13th IOSCG meeting further strengthened the relationship, providing an opportunity for both nations to review and expand bilateral cooperation in new areas for mutual benefit, according to a MEA statement.Militaries of India and Oman regularly hold exercises and Oman has given Indian Navy access to Duqm Port.

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Source of information and images “economictimes.indiatimes”“