Oman Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq's First State Visit To India

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman arrived in New Delhi on 15 December 2023 on his first three-day state visit to India. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan welcomed the Sultan of Oman on his first visit to India.

• A high-level delegation also visited India along with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
• Along with the Head of State of Oman, a high-level delegation of senior ministers and officials also visited India.

Sultan visited India on the invitation of President Murmu:

• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Sultan of Oman has visited India on the invitation of President Draupadi Murmu.
• PM Modi and President Murmu will formally welcome him at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 16 December.
• Sultan Haitham will also visit the National Gallery of Modern Art.
• He will also hold a meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House on the second day of his visit. During this time, PM Modi will also organise lunch in his honour.
• The visit of the Sultan of Oman to India will provide an opportunity to explore avenues of future cooperation between the two countries for regional stability, progress and prosperity.

Relations between India and Oman:

• India and Oman have a long-standing relationship based on historical, cultural and economic ties.
• Diplomatic ties were initiated in 1955 between the two nations. The relationship was established as a strategic partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to the Gulf countries in 2008.
• In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Oman added an important chapter to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
• Oman is a strategic partner of India among the Gulf countries. India is an important interlocutor for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• The Defence Ministries between India and Oman annually review their relations at the Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting.
• Both countries conduct regular biennial bilateral exercises between their three military services.
•  Main exercises among these include the following- 
  • Military Exercise: Al Najah
  • Air Force Exercise: Eastern Bridge
  • Naval Exercise: Naseem Al Bahr
• Oman has been supporting anti-piracy missions of the Indian Navy since 2008. Oman regularly welcomes Indian Naval ships for overseas deployment.
• India prioritises expanding its economic and commercial relations with Oman.
• Both countries strengthen mutual economic cooperation through institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Commission Meeting and the Joint Trade Council.
• India and Oman have strong bilateral trade and investment relations. India ranks among Oman's key trading allies.