S Jaishankar’s Talks With Omani Diplomat Highlight Growing India-Gulf Cooperation

India and Oman’s enduring and robust relations have been reaffirmed and discussed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Khalifa Alharthy, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs of Oman. Recalling the historical and strategic ties of the two nations, while posting on X (earlier Twitter), Jaishankar shared insights regarding expanding cooperation in key sectors including trade, investments, technology, and space.

He wrote, “Great to receive Khalifa Alharthy, Under Secretary for Political Affairs of Oman today. Noted our wide-ranging cooperation and new opportunities in trade, investments, technology, and space.”

Oman: A Strategic Partner in India’s Gulf Policy

India has long counted Oman as a key ally of its foreign policy in the Gulf region. Oman’s importance is underscored by its active engagement in the most important regional organisations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

The bilateral relationship between the two countries has a history of over 5,000 years, with formal diplomatic relations established in 1955. The partnership was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008, marking the increasing political and economic engagement.

Deepening Cooperation Across Sectors

The India-Oman relationship has changed with time, moving beyond the traditional realm of diplomacy to the emerging sectors of space, cybersecurity, and rare earth minerals. Oman has played a significant role in India’s West Asia policy since it is one of the oldest and most trusted regional partners of India. The exchanges at this level were complemented by the Indian leadership’s visits: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to India in 2018 and the visit of the National Security Adviser of India Ajit Doval in June 2023.

Oman’s Involvement in India’s G20 Presidency

As a gesture of goodwill and strategic cooperation, Oman was invited as a guest country during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. The invitation reflects the strength of the partnership and mutual interest of both nations in promoting collaborative growth.

Indian Community in Oman

The vibrant Indian expatriate community in Oman, with about 684,771 members, plays a very important role in nurturing bilateral relations. This community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and families has been instrumental in fostering strong people-to-people connections. Many of them have deep roots in Oman, with some families having lived in the country for over 150 years.

This apart, the country has 21 Indian schools and more than 40,000 students as well as a number of religious and cultural institutions such as temples, churches, and gurudwaras. The institutions help preserve Indian culture as well as promote social welfare.

The Future of India-Oman Relations

The India-Oman relation, based on shared values and an enduring sense of cooperation, remains strong and thriving in many areas. The growing scope in all these areas, like technology, space, and investments, reflects the increasing possibility of the future. Both the nations intend to further strengthen their bilateral ties and engage in novel areas of cooperation, so their partnership stands as an important pillar for India’s West Asia policy.

India and Oman share a relationship of mutual respect and have long historical ties, henceforth sharing a common vision. Both countries are well-equipped in strengthening their collaboration with stronger people-to-people connections as well as expanding opportunities within emerging sectors.