Oman for centuries have been advocating moderation whose strands are today visible from North Africa to Indonesia.This pluralistic character of Oman brought it closer to India resulting in wide-ranging strategic partnership. Oman is India’s oldest strategic partner in the Gulf. Sultan Qaboos’s grandfather once ruled Oman from India in early decades of the last century and has been buried in Mumbai. Oman under Qaboos emerged as India’s first strategic partner in West Asia.Under Qaboos India and Oman developed a defence partnership with Delhi supplying rifles for the Sultanate's security. Last December India and Oman signed a Maritime Transport Agreement during the visit of foreign minister S Jaishankar to the Sultanate last month.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 07, 2020 10:30 UTC