Two Indian Navy ships and a Coast Guard vessel have arrived at the port of Muscat, Oman, as part of a long-range training deployment to the Persian Gulf, the Navy announced on Sunday. The ships INS Tir, Shardul, and Veera (Coast Guard) belong to the First Training Squadron (1TS).
“The port call further signifies the strengthening of existing defence relations between India and Oman in the maritime domain,” the Indian Navy stated in a release.
#INSTir, #INSShardul & #ICGSVeera of #1TS arrived at Muscat, #Oman on #05Oct 24 as part of the Long Range Training deployment.
During the visit, the #IndianNavy will engage with the Royal Navy of Oman on varied aspects of #maritimesecurity, interoperability, joint exercises &… pic.twitter.com/p6uMKcLAka— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) October 6, 2024
The Indian Navy’s deployment to the region coincides with heightened tensions between Iran and Israel following an Israeli air strike in Lebanon that killed senior Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on Israel.
“During the visit from 5th to 9th October, the Indian Navy will engage with the Royal Navy of Oman on various aspects of maritime security and interoperability. This includes harbour interactions, joint exercises, training exchanges, professional interactions, and friendly sports fixtures between the Navies,” the statement said.
It marks the 1TS’s third visit to Muscat, Oman, in the last ten years. The statement emphasized that these interactions play a key role in consolidating gains in naval cooperation and maintaining the existing partnerships between both Navies.
The statement mentions that VAdm V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, will visit the Sultanate of Oman from 6 to 9 October. During the visit, FOCINC South will have bilateral discussions with VAdm Abdullah bin Khamis bin Abdullah Al Raisi, Chief of Staff Sultan’s Armed Forces (COSSAF), and RAdm Saif bin Nasser bin Mohsen Al-Rahbi, Commander of Royal Navy of Oman (CRNO). Additionally, he will visit key defence and training installations in Oman.
The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been engaging in discussions on various areas, such as operations, training, and collaboration. The 6th edition of the Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Oman Staff talks took place in June in New Delhi. The visit of 1TS and CINC, SNC, further strengthens the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Last week, 1TS had visited the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas as part of a long-range training deployment to the Persian Gulf on 1st October.
Team BharatShakti
