Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Grand Order of the Sultan of Oman, the Gulf nation’s highest civilian honour, during his official visit to Muscat. The award places him in the esteemed company of international luminaries such as South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who have previously received Omani civilian honours.

The Grand Order recognizes PM Modi’s distinguished leadership and his pivotal role in strengthening the strategic and economic partnership between India and Oman. His visit underscored a shared commitment to enhancing connectivity, trade, and security cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.

Deepening bilateral ties

Discussions between PM Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq centered on expanding cooperation across energy, defence, maritime security, and space. Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf, and the two nations maintain robust naval cooperation, including port calls, training exchanges, and joint exercises.

The leaders also reviewed progress on key infrastructure initiatives. These include the conceptual India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and plans for a potential undersea pipeline to enhance energy security. Both sides emphasised creating resilient supply chains and increasing Indian investment in Oman’s technology, tourism, and logistics sectors.

People-to-people ties form a pillar of the relationship, with Oman hosting a large Indian expatriate community whose contributions are widely acknowledged. The Prime Minister interacted with business leaders and community members, highlighting opportunities for skill development and entrepreneurship.

In a noteworthy development against terrorism, India and Oman reiterated their commitment to combatting extremist threats and dismantling terrorist financing networks. This alignment signals a broader convergence on regional security, particularly in the Arabian Sea and the Western Indian Ocean.

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