NB Explains | NSA Ajit Doval visits strategic Duqm port in Oman; What does it mean for India-

NewsBharati    29-Jun-2023 13:03:05 PM
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India's high-level engagement with the Arab world continued with NSA Ajit Doval travelling to the Sultanate of Oman on Monday to boost bilateral cooperation, including in defence and security. This came even as PM Narendra Modi returned to India from Egypt, where he signed a strategic partnership agreement with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Ajit Doval visits strategic Duqm port in Oman
 
 
Doval called on Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and delivered a personal message of greetings from Modi, said the Indian government. Doval also held talks with Oman's foreign minister Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi with a focus on possible bilateral cooperation in the spheres of technology, military matters and mining.
 

Indian NSA Ajit Doval visit to Oman

 
"NSA also held wide ranging discussions with General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani, minister of the royal office, and foreign minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The discussions enabled a high level review of the multifaceted bilateral relations between India and the Sultanate of Oman with focus on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas for economic & technological development, mutual security and regional stability," said the MEA in a statement.
 
According to the government, the NSA's visit reflected the strong bilateral relation between India and Oman, the importance of the Arab country as a key partner of India in the Gulf and highlighted India's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the Sultanate.
 
 
"The visit provided an opportunity for high-level engagements and further cemented the strong bonds of friendship between India and the Sultanate of Oman," said the government. The two officials further discussed a number of regional and international issues and underscored the emphasis of the leadership of the two countries on espousing policies of constructive dialogue and international cooperation, the Omani news agency said.
 

Ajit Doval visits strategic Duqm port in Oman

Boosting maritime ties between India-Oman

 
Notably, Oman is India's oldest strategic partner in West Asia and an important ally at the Gulf Cooperation Council, OIC, the Arab League, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association fora.
 
So, amidst a series of high-level meetings and discussions during a flying visit to Oman on Monday, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval took time out to visit the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD) located at a distance of 550 square kilometres from the country’s capital Muscat where it has given access to the Indian Navy to facilitate its presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
 

Ajit Doval visits strategic Duqm port in Oman 
Besides, the local authorities of SEZD gave a presentation to Doval on various opportunities for investors, including the possibility of 100% ownership, exemption from taxes, promotional prices with preferential grace periods, officials said. Oman wants to create strategic oil reserves in Ras Markaz near Duqm.
 

Significance of SEZD to India

 
The prime geographical location of the SEZD is the largest in the Middle East and North Africa, with an area of 2,000 square kilometers on a sea open to the Indian Ocean and close to the global shipping lines attracting the attention of many countries.
 
 
For India, the development of the Chabahar port has been in the scheme of things for some time whereas Duqm port is another strategically located port overseeing the coast of Oman in the Arabian sea, which might meet its requirements. India’s gain in accessing the Duqm port is a vital asset in enhancing the port’s strategic positioning and for the broader interests of safeguarding the regional security vulnerabilities.
 
It is pertinent to mention that the Port of Duqm overlooks the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. So, Duqm will play a key part in India's maritime strategy concerning the Indian Ocean, where China is expanding its presence. Being located to the north-west of the Indian Ocean, the port can provide India an easy access to the Red Sea as well, via the Gulf of Aden.
 

Oman-India ties

 
The Oman-India defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries as Oman is India's closest defence partner in the Gulf region and an important anchor for India's defence and strategic interests.
 
Two significant MoUs were signed in 2016 and 2019 which has enhanced India’s ambition to expand its footprints in the region and to focus on bilateral and regional security aspects more closely. And over the years there has been an increase in Indian activities and traffic at Duqm.
 
However, India’s major aim is to deter any threat posed by the Chinese activities in the Arabian Sea as they are adding their bases/ presence in the vital extended Neighbourhood and Duqm seems to be a reliable fit to keep a check on these issues.
Ajit Doval National Security Advisor Oman Duqm Special Economic Zone at Duqm Muscat