# India Oman Naval Exercise Boosts Arabian Sea Security

> India and Oman launch naval exercise to strengthen maritime cooperation amid rising security threats in the Arabian Sea.
- Title: India Oman Naval Exercise Boosts Arabian Sea Security
- Summary: India and Oman launch naval exercise to strengthen maritime cooperation amid rising security threats in the Arabian Sea.
- Keywords: india, oman, naval exercise, arabian sea, maritime security, naseem al bahr, corpat, mahasagar, indian navy, royal navy, gulf of aden, piracy
- Source: Indiatimes — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/news/india-oman-begin-naval-exercise-as-arabian-sea-security-takes-centre-stage/articleshow/135701250.cms
- Author: Dhruv Yadav
- Published: 2026-11-10T06:08:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: india, oman, naval exercise, arabian sea, maritime security, naseem al bahr, corpat, mahasagar, indian navy, royal navy, gulf of aden, piracy
## India and Oman begin naval exercise
India and Oman launched the 15th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise Naseem Al Bahr on November 8, 2026.
## Arabian Sea security concerns
A large share of India's crude oil imports and exports passes through the Arabian Sea and western Indian Ocean.
## Exercise objectives
The exercise aims to exchange operational experience, improve interoperability, and strengthen mutual understanding between the navies.
## MAHASAGAR vision
The port call aligns with India's MAHASAGAR vision for mutual and holistic advancement in security and growth across regions.
## Joint military cooperation
The exercise follows the 13th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee held on November 24, 2025.
## Arabian Sea strategic importance
The western maritime approaches connect India's ports with the Gulf, Red Sea, Europe, and east coast of Africa.
## Gulf of Aden significance
The Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia provide access to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, a major shipping route between Asia and Europe.
## Security threats
Any disruption from conflict, piracy, or attacks on merchant vessels can affect India's energy security and export industries.
## Indian Navy's anti-piracy efforts
The Indian Navy has maintained an anti-piracy deployment in the Gulf of Aden since 2:08.
## Recent pirate incident
In July 2026, INS Trikand responded to an attempted pirate attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Arsenal, 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti.
## Operation Urja Suraksha
In 2026, the Navy launched Operation Urja Suraksha to protect merchant shipping and India's energy interests amid worsening security in West Asia.
## Regional cooperation
INS Trikand conducted joint training with the Mozambique Navy in Maputo, Mozambique, in March 2026.
## IOS SAGAR deployments
In 2025 and 2026, the Navy deployed personnel under the IOS SAGAR initiative with 44 and 38 participants from partner countries respectively.
## Rescue operation
In November 2026, INS Kolkata rescued all 20 crew members of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini from pirates off Somalia.
## Key takeaway

India and Oman began a bilateral naval exercise to enhance security cooperation in the Arabian Sea, aligning with regional maritime strategies and recent military coordination efforts.