Focus: GS III: Security Challenges
Why in News?
The Indian Navy’s guided missile stealth frigate, INS Trikand, offshore patrol vessel, INS Sumitra, and Maritime Patrol Aircraft, (MPA) Dornier, participated in the 13th Edition of the Indian Navy (IN) – Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) bilateral exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ (Sea Breeze).
About ‘Naseem Al Bahr’:
- The exercise was conducted off the coast of Oman and had three phases: harbour phase, sea phase and debrief.
- Activities undertaken during the harbour phase included professional interactions between IN and RNO operations teams and friendly sports fixtures between the two navies.
- The sea phase included tactical maritime exercise involving surface action, air defence, maritime surveillance and interdiction/VBSS.
- These operations helped in strengthening interoperability as well as enhancing understanding of each other’s procedures.
- The last phase of exercise, debrief, was conducted at the RNO Naval Base at Duqm.
- India and Oman have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations, sharing common cultural values. Naval exercises have added strength and substance to these bilateral ties.
- The first IN-RNO exercise was conducted in 1993. This year marks 30 years of IN-RNO bilateral exercises.
