India, Oman to step up military ties

In a bid to step up strategic ties with the Gulf, India on Tuesday decided to expand its bilateral military cooperation with Oman in fields ranging from maritime security and anti-piracy measures to joint training and combat exercises. This emerged after defence minister A K Antony, on his first-ever visit to West Asia, held discussions with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi in Muscat on Tuesday.

With India sourcing the bulk of its energy needs from the Gulf and keen on ensuring the protection of its huge sea-borne trade, especially from the growing menace of piracy, New Delhi is now steadily trying to enhance its security cooperation with the countries in the region. "Maritime security has become a global concern due to pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden. Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been growing over the years and has now assumed alarming proportions,'' said Antony........................Read More

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