Context: This article is based on an Editorial “A time-honoured connect that will help bridge the Gulf” which was published in the Hindu. Recently, the Sultan of Oman is on his first visit to India. The visit is an opportunity to explore avenues for future collaboration between India and Oman for regional stability, progress, and prosperity.

India Oman Relations: Background

• Strong Connections: Oman has always had a strong ties with India. Sultan Qaboos was always favorable towards India and invited Indian companies and professionals to undertake projects. 
• People-to-People Connections: There is a large Indian community of almost seven lakh people in Oman which has contributed to the constantly evolving vibrant relations.
• All-Time Ally: During the Cold War era, and even after, when the Arab world was ambivalent towards India and was often soft and supportive of Pakistan, Oman always supported India. 

Map: Location of Oman

India Oman Relations: Oman’s Diplomatic Steps

• Balanced Relations: Oman has carefully balanced its close relations with the Western powers and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
• Maintain a Pragmatic Approach: It has a pragmatic approach to Iran, maintaining that the Straits of Hormuz will not be closed. 
  • In the Iran nuclear deal (2015), Oman’s role is well documented and acknowledged. 
  • During the Persian Gulf crisis (2019), Oman played a key role in diffusing tensions between the United States and Iran. 
  • During the GCC-Qatar diplomatic stand-off (2017), Oman refused to join Saudi Arabia and other countries in breaking diplomatic ties with Qatar. 
• Holds a Significant Position: Much before the Abraham Accords, the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to Oman in October 2018, confirmed the importance of Oman in the region.

India Oman Relations: Significance of Oman to India

• Oman is the closest neighbor to India in the Arabian Gulf region. 
• Oman’s location is of utmost strategic importance to India. 
• Along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman completes the trio of key strategic partners of India in the Gulf region.

India Oman Relations and their Strategic Partnership

• The India-Oman strategic partnership was signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Oman in November 2008 and is based on twin pillars of mutual trust and shared interests. 
• Defense and Security Engagement: It is governed by a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2005. 
  • Joint Exercises: Oman is the first Gulf country with which all three wings of India’s defense forces hold joint exercises. 
  • A Partner in time of Crisis: During the Persian Gulf crisis in June 2019, the Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Sankalp’ to ensure the safe passage of Indian-flagged ships which most often operated off the coast of Oman. 
• The MoU on Duqm Port: It is significant for security cooperation, providing basic facilities, Operational Turn Round, and other logistics facilities to Indian naval ships operating in the region.
• Trade and Commerce: It is another important pillar of engagement. Bilateral trade during FY 2022-23 reached $12.388 billion. 
  • India was the second largest market for Oman’s crude oil exports in 2022 after China. 
  • In October 2022, India and Oman launched the Rupay debit card in Oman.
• Space Cooperation: An associated MoU was signed. There is a possibility that an agreement on joint exploration of rare earth metals, vital to modern electronic equipment, could add strength to the partnership. 
• Connectivity: In the proposed India-Middle-East-Europe Connectivity Corridor (IMEEC) infrastructure project to link India to Europe across West Asia, Oman has an important role. 
  • There is a proposal from the South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), a private consortium based in India, to lay a 1,400 km long deep-sea pipeline from Oman to India for the transfer of gas. 

India’s Gateway to West Asia

• Oman is an integral part of all important groupings in the region– the GCC, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League and therefore, is India’s gateway to West Asia. 
• Oman is a crucial pillar of India’s West Asia policy: India is seeking deeper engagement and collaboration in West Asia, of which Oman is an important pillar. Oman’s ability to manage rival ideologies and power games in the region makes it vitally important to India.

Must Read: West Asia: India’s Geopolitical Opportunity And Challenge

Conclusion:

Oman is India’s oldest strategic partner in the region and closest neighbor. Both countries consider themselves as ambassadors of peace and enjoy goodwill across ideologies in the world. With the ongoing Israel-Hamas war testing the region to its limits, the visit of Oman’s Sultan is timely and very important for India and the region.