Muscat: Oman's military and naval forces will visit India for a joint military exercise next year, according to India's Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
Antony was speaking to the Indian Diaspora at the Indian Embassy on Monday night after arriving in Oman earlier in the evening for a two-day visit to the Sultanate to reinforce India's bilateral security ties in the Gulf region.
"The bilateral relations between India and Oman are centuries old. We consolidate our relations on a regular basis while exploring newer avenues of mutual cooperation," the Indian Minister added.
This is the first high-level Indian delegation to visit Oman after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 2008 trip.
Antony is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar.
On Tuesday, the Indian minister held wide-ranging talks with Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Bin Harib Al Busaidi, Oman's Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs. The two discussed ways to promote military cooperation between the two countries.
India's bilateral security ties have advanced over the years with Oman, which has become central to any international strategy to stabilise the Arabian Sea as well as the Persian Gulf - two of the world's most volatile sea links - amid growing threats of piracy.
In October last year, Jaguar fighter jets of the Indian Air Force flew to Oman to participate in the first joint aerial exercise with the Royal Air Force of Oman.
According to Oman News Agency, India and Oman held the Fourth Meeting of the Joint Military Cooperation between the two countries.
The Omani side to the meeting was led by Mohammed Bin Nasir Al Rasbi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence, while the Indian side was led by Pradeep Kumar, Secretary of Defence.
The meeting discussed aspects of existing cooperation in the military field between the ministries of Defence in the two countries and exchanged views on matters of common interest.
