News highlights:
Recently, India-Oman hold strategic dialogue, where both countries have underlined the need to work collectively to fight the challenge of terrorism, terrorist propaganda, abuse of cyberspace and misuse of new and emerging technologies.
Key Takeaway:
- The issues were discussed at the eighth India-Oman strategic dialogue.
- Both Countries agreed to hold the next round of the strategic dialogue in Oman in 2024.
Key Highlights of the Dialogue
- Strategic partnership:
- Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the close strategic partnership between India and Oman
- Both sides highlighted the high priority accorded by the leadership of both countries to enhance further their strategic ties based on trust and mutual respect.
- Mutual interest:
- Discussions were held on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral strategic and security cooperation, defence and regional security.
- Both sides reiterated the importance of preserving maritime safety and security in the region.
- Strategic dialogue:
- Both sides reiterated the importance of strategic dialogue as an essential mechanism of bilateral cooperation between India and Oman.
- Work collectively to fight terrorism:
- Both sides condemned in the strongest terms all forms and manifestations of terrorism and underscored the need to work collectively to fight this menace.
- Expansion of terrorist propaganda, misuse of new and emerging technologies, arms and drugs trafficking and abuse of cyberspace for recruitment, fundraising and disinformation have profound security implications for the region.
India-Oman Relationship:
- Overview:
- The two countries across the Arabian Sea are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations, which are attributed to historical maritime trade linkages.
- While people-to-people contact between India and Oman can be traced back 5000 years, diplomatic relations were established in 1955, and the relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008. Oman has been a key pillar of India’s West Asia Policy.
- Political Relations:
- Visits at the highest level have been exchanged frequently between India and Oman.
- Ministerial-level visits have taken place regularly.
- The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf.
- Defence Relations:
- The Ministries of Defence of both countries review their relations annually under the aegis of a Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting.
- India and Oman conduct regular biennial bilateral exercises between all three services.
- Army exercise: Al Najah
- Air Force exercise: Eastern Bridge
- Naval Exercise: Naseem Al Bahr
- Since 2008, Oman has been extending its support to Indian Navy’s anti-piracy missions, and Indian Naval Ships have regularly welcomed by Oman or Overseas Deployments.
- Cultural Cooperation:
- India and Oman have close cultural relations.
- The vibrant Indian expatriate community in Oman regularly hosts cultural performances and invites celebrity artists and singers from India.
- Indian Community in Oman:
- The large, diverse and highly regarded expatriate Indian community in Oman is spread over the entire spectrum of professions. Thousands of Indians are working as doctors, engineers, etc.
- Many Indian schools offer CBSE syllabus catering to the educational needs of about 45,000 Indian children.
- Economic & Commercial Relations:
- Institutional mechanisms like Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and Joint Business Council (JBC) oversee economic cooperation between India and Oman.
- India is among Oman’s top trading partners.
- India is the 2nd largest market for Oman’s crude oil exports for 2022 after China.
- India is also the 4th largest market for Oman’s non-oil exports for the year 2022 after UAE, the US and Saudi Arabia and 2nd most significant source of its import after UAE.
- Indian companies have invested in Oman in sectors like iron and steel, cement, fertilisers, textile etc.
- India-Oman Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), a JV between the State Bank of India and State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) of Oman, a special purpose vehicle to invest in India, has been operational.
Way Forward:
- India does not have enough energy resources to serve its current or future energy requirements. The rapidly growing energy demand has contributed to the need for long-term energy partnerships with countries like Oman.
- Oman’s Duqm Port is situated in the middle of international shipping lanes connecting East with West Asia.
- India should also work closely with Oman to enhance strategic depth in the region and add heft to its Indo-Pacific vision in the Western and Southern Parts of the Indian Ocean.
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source: The Print