# India-Oman Defence Cooperation Deepens (2008)

URL: https://allhistories.com/oman/timeline/2008-india-oman-defence-cooperation-deepens
Location: Muscat, Oman
Themes: main-event

After Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Oman in 2008, defence cooperation between the two countries was stepped up further. The Wikipedia article does not use the term strategic partnership for that year. Oman was the first Gulf nation to formalise defence relations with India, following joint military exercises in 2006 and a defence agreement. India opened a consulate in Muscat in February 1955, upgraded to a consulate general in 1960 and to an embassy in 1971. The first ambassador arrived in 1973, while Oman opened its embassy in New Delhi in 1972. Trade links between the two shores date back several millennia. The Indian Air Force has held biannual exercises with the Royal Air Force of Oman since 2009, and the Indian Navy has berthing rights in Omani ports. The naval exercise Naseem al-Bahr dates from 1993, and these steps led to the Duqm access that India announced in February 2018. At this point in the timeline (2008), Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman (1970 – 2020), also held the office of Prime Minister from 1972.

## Why it matters
Deepened the long maritime relationship between Oman and India with a defence dimension.

Ruler at the Time: [Qaboos bin Said](https://allhistories.com/oman/rulers/qaboos-bin-said)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — India–Oman relations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93Oman_relations)
- [Wikipedia — Oman Air](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman_Air)