National Security Advisor visits strategic Port of Duqm

On his day-long trip to Oman, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the strategic Port of Duqm, where Muscat has given access to the Indian Navy to facilitate its presence in the Indian Ocean region. Besides engaging with Oman's top leadership on Monday, Doval visited the Special Economic Zone at Duqm SEZD, located at a distance of nearly 550 square km from Muscat, officials said. SEZD is spread across 2,000 square km. The local authorities gave Doval a presentation on various opportunities for investors, including the possibility of 100% ownership, exemption from taxes, promotional prices with preferential grace periods, officials said. In Ras Markaz near Duqm, Oman wants to create strategic oil reserves. Duqm Port overlooks the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Oman. The Indian Ocean is where Duqm will play a crucial role in India's maritime strategy, where China is expanding its presence. The port's location is north-west of the Indian Ocean, which can provide India with easy access to the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aden. India's oldest strategic partner in West Asia, Oman, is a key ally of the Gulf Cooperation Council, OIC, the Arab League, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association fora. The defence collaboration between India and Oman has been a significant element of the strategic alliance between the two nations, and it has played a significant role in the development of the relationship between the two nations. India's closest Defence partner in the Gulf region is Oman, a key anchor for India's defence and strategic interests. The robust strategic relationship between India and Oman has been anchored in defence cooperation, which has positioned it as a key anchor for the robust India-Oman strategic partnership. Defence exchanges are supported by a framework MoU that was recently revived in 2021. In the Port of Duqm, Oman has offered logistical facilities to the Indian Navy, and the two sides had signed two critical MoUs in 2021, an official said. Oman, which operates a tri-service joint exercises with India, is expected to play a crucial role in enabling New Delhi to maintain its role as net security provider in the Western Indian Ocean region, where China has embarked on a plan to enhance its strategic presence. The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman signed an MoU on the exchange of white shipping information in 2021. The MoU is facilitating information exchange on merchant shipping traffic, officials said.