Oman, India ink MOU on procurement of defence material, equipment
Muscat - Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary of India, cochaired the 12th Oman-india Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting with Dr Mohammed bin Naseer bin Ali al Zaabi, Secretary-general of Ministry of Defence, in Muscat on Wednesday.
Aramane and Zaabi signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pertaining to procurement of defence material and equipment which would provide a framework for a new area of defence collaboration in implementing of the Oman-india Joint Vision Document titled ‘A Partnership for the Future’ adopted during the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to New Delhi in December 2023.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed and appreciated the robust existing defence cooperation. The JMCC meeting delved into many new areas of cooperation in the fields of training, joint exercise, information sharing, oceanography, and ship building and maintenance, repair and operations that would build mutual trust and interoperability between militaries of the two nations.
Further, they also exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest. The two sides discussed effective and practical initiatives to further boost bilateral defence engagements focused on defence industries collaboration.
During talks, Aramane highlighted the potential of India’s defence industry and a fruitful partnership with the armed forces of Oman.
The sultanate expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Indian defence industry.
Aramane invited Zaabi and his delegation to visit India to witness the defence industry’s capabilities, especially in aerospace and maritime sectors.
Aramane arrived in Muscat on Tuesday for a two-day on an invitation of Zaabi.
Oman is one of India’s closest defence partners in Gulf region and defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between India and the sultanate. The two countries are committed to building strategic partnerships.