India, Oman conclude 15th Naseem Al Bahr naval exercise in Muscat
Synopsis
The 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr wrapped up in Muscat on 11 November, with INS Surat and Oman's Al-Mu'azzar conducting VBSS drills and cross-deck operations. Coming weeks after the 8th India-Oman Navy Staff Talks and INS Sudarshini's Salalah port call, the exercise signals a notably intensified bilateral naval tempo — framed explicitly under India's MAHASAGAR regional security vision.
Key Takeaways
The 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr (Sea Breeze) concluded in Muscat on 11 November 2026 .
INS Surat and Oman's Al-Mu'azzar conducted joint VBSS drills and cross-deck operations during the sea phase.
Harbour-phase Subject Matter Expert Exchanges covered EOD , Mine Countermeasure Operations, and Hydrography.
The 8th India-Oman Navy Staff Talks were held in New Delhi on 27–28 October 2026 , co-chaired by Commodore Kartik Srimal and Commodore Ahmed Juma Salim Al Khatri .
INS Sudarshini visited Salalah, Oman from 14–17 October as part of the Lokayan-2026 deployment.
The exercise is aligned with India's MAHASAGAR vision for regional maritime security and growth.
The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman on 11 November 2026 concluded the 15th edition of their bilateral maritime exercise, Naseem Al Bahr (Sea Breeze), held in Muscat. The exercise was aimed at enhancing interoperability, deepening professional cooperation, and promoting mutual understanding between the two naval forces.
Harbour Phase: Knowledge Exchange Across Specialised Domains
During the harbour phase, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) were conducted between specialist teams of both navies. The exchanges covered key areas of mutual interest, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Mine Countermeasure Operations, and Hydrography. These sessions facilitated the sharing of professional knowledge and operational experience across critical maritime domains.
Sea Phase: Joint Drills Between INS Surat and Al-Mu'azzar
The sea phase brought together Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat and Royal Navy of Oman Vessel Al-Mu'azzar for a range of joint operational activities. These included Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills and cross-deck operations, allowing personnel from both navies to practise coordinated procedures and sharpen operational interoperability. INS Surat had arrived at Muscat on 8 November for the 8–11 November exercise window.
What the Ministry of Defence Said
The Ministry of Defence issued a statement underlining the broader significance of the exercise: 'Exercise Naseem Al Bahr (Sea Breeze) reflects the close maritime partnership between India and Oman and the shared commitment of the two navies to strengthening maritime cooperation. The exercise also reinforces the Indian Navy's engagement with regional maritime partners in furtherance of the Government of India's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).'
Wider Bilateral Naval Engagement
The exercise follows a period of intensified India-Oman naval engagement. Last month, the two countries held the 8th edition of Navy Staff Talks in New Delhi from 27–28 October 2026. The talks were co-chaired by Commodore Kartik Srimal, Commodore (Foreign Cooperation), Indian Navy, and Commodore Ahmed Juma Salim Al Khatri, Director General of Operations and Plans, Royal Navy of Oman. Discussions focused on operational engagements, training, information sharing, hydrographic cooperation, and interoperability.
Separately, the Indian Navy's three-masted sail training ship INS Sudarshini visited Salalah, Oman from 14–17 October as part of its transoceanic deployment Lokayan-2026. Professional interactions and sporting engagements during the port call were cited as fostering camaraderie and strengthening people-to-people ties with the Royal Navy of Oman.
Strategic Context
The Naseem Al Bahr series, now in its 15th edition, is a cornerstone of India-Oman maritime relations. Oman occupies a strategically vital position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, making naval coordination with Muscat a key pillar of India's broader Indian Ocean security architecture. The MAHASAGAR framework, cited in the Defence Ministry's statement, reflects New Delhi's intent to institutionalise maritime partnerships across the region rather than rely on ad hoc engagements. With the 16th edition of Naseem Al Bahr and the next round of Staff Talks expected in coming months, the bilateral naval calendar looks set to deepen further.
Point of View
INS Sudarshini's port call, and now Naseem Al Bahr — within a single month suggest that the India-Oman maritime relationship has moved well beyond ceremonial exercises into a structured, recurring security partnership. The explicit invocation of the MAHASAGAR framework is worth noting: it places bilateral drills within a doctrine of institutionalised Indian Ocean engagement, signalling New Delhi's intent to build durable naval architecture rather than episodic goodwill. Oman's geographic position at the Strait of Hormuz makes this partnership strategically asymmetric in India's favour — the question is whether the operational depth being built through VBSS and EOD exchanges is translating into genuine crisis-response capability, or remains largely symbolic.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Exercise Naseem Al Bahr?
Exercise Naseem Al Bahr, which translates to 'Sea Breeze', is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman held periodically to enhance interoperability and professional cooperation. The 15th edition concluded in Muscat on 11 November 2026, involving harbour-phase expert exchanges and sea-phase joint drills.
Which ships participated in the 15th Naseem Al Bahr exercise?
Indian Naval Ship Surat and Royal Navy of Oman Vessel Al-Mu'azzar were the primary participants in the sea phase. INS Surat arrived at Muscat on 8 November for the 8–11 November exercise window.
What activities took place during the exercise?
The exercise had two phases. The harbour phase featured Subject Matter Expert Exchanges covering Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Mine Countermeasure Operations, and Hydrography. The sea phase included Visit, Board, Search and Seizure drills and cross-deck operations to build coordinated operational procedures.
What is the MAHASAGAR vision mentioned in the context of this exercise?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — the Government of India's framework for deepening maritime engagement with regional partners. The Ministry of Defence cited this vision when describing the significance of Naseem Al Bahr.
What other India-Oman naval activities took place recently?
The 8th edition of India-Oman Navy Staff Talks was held in New Delhi from 27–28 October 2026, co-chaired by Commodore Kartik Srimal and Commodore Ahmed Juma Salim Al Khatri. Additionally, INS Sudarshini visited Salalah, Oman from 14–17 October as part of the Lokayan-2026 transoceanic deployment.
