Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat arrived in Muscat, Oman, on 8 November 2026 to participate in the 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr 2026, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman. The four-day exercise, running from 8 to 11 November 2026, is focused on deepening operational coordination and interoperability between the two navies.

Exercise Details and Objectives

The Indian Navy confirmed the deployment, stating: 'INS Surat arrived at Muscat, Oman, on 08 Nov 26 to participate in the 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr 2026, scheduled from 08–11 Nov 26. Building upon the momentum of the 13th edition of the Joint Military Cooperation Committee, the exercise aims to enhance operational synergy and interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.'

Naseem Al Bahr — Arabic for 'sea breeze' — is one of India's longest-running bilateral naval engagements in the Gulf region, reflecting the strategic importance both nations place on maritime security in the Arabian Sea and the broader Indian Ocean Region.

Recent Navy Staff Talks in New Delhi

The exercise follows closely on the heels of the 8th edition of India-Oman Navy Staff Talks, held in New Delhi from 27 to 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 covered strengthening operational engagements, training programmes, information exchange, and hydrographic cooperation, with an emphasis on addressing shared maritime security challenges. The Indian Navy confirmed the talks focused on 'enhancing operational engagements, training, information sharing and hydrographic cooperation, with an emphasis on strengthening interoperability and addressing shared maritime security challenges.'

INS Sudarshini's Earlier Oman Port Call

This latest exercise also builds on a recent visit by INS Sudarshini, the Indian Navy's three-masted sail training ship, which departed Salalah in Oman after a four-day port call from 14 to 17 October 2026, as part of its historic transoceanic deployment Lokayan-2026. According to the Ministry of Defence, the visit included professional interactions and sporting engagements with the Royal Navy of Oman, fostering camaraderie and strengthening people-to-people ties.

Strategic Significance

India and Oman share deep-rooted maritime ties, with Oman sitting at a critical juncture between the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway vital to global energy transit. This comes amid India's broader effort to consolidate its naval partnerships across the Gulf and Indian Ocean littoral, as part of its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. The 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr underscores how this relationship has matured steadily over the years.

With the exercise concluding on 11 November 2026, both navies are expected to build on its outcomes in future cooperative frameworks, including potential joint patrolling and enhanced hydrographic data sharing.