Rear Admiral Ali bin Abdullah al Shidi, Commandant of Oman’s National Defence College (NDC) at the Academy for Strategic and Defence Studies, met with a delegation from India’s National Defence College on September 1 in Muscat. The Indian delegation was led by Air Vice Marshal Manish Vasantkumar Patel, Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College of the Republic of India.

The meeting took place at Bait Al Falaj, the headquarters of Oman’s Royal Army, serving as a venue for strategic and defence discussions. It provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on regional security challenges, strategic defence cooperation, and the sharing of military education expertise.

Rear Admiral al Shidi and Air Vice Marshal Patel discussed mechanisms to enhance collaboration between the two institutions in areas including strategic studies, defence policy formulation, and professional military education. This engagement reflects ongoing efforts by Oman and India to strengthen bilateral relations in the defence sector against a backdrop of evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Gulf region and South Asia.

The visit signals continued commitment from both countries to foster dialogue and cooperation on defence matters at senior levels, contributing to mutual understanding and capacity-building. Further details regarding specific agreements or follow-up initiatives stemming from the discussions were not disclosed.