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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Military cooperation with UK reviewed, to be enhanced

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MUSCAT: Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, received in his office on Thursday Mark Lancaster, Minister of State for the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom.


The guest expressed his thanks and appreciation to Gen Al Numani, stressing the keenness of his country to enhance all frameworks of the existing cooperation between the Sultanate and the friendly UK, particularly the preparations to implement the joint military exercise Al Saif Sareea 3 (Swift Sword 3).


The meeting also touched on various issues of common concern and means of promoting them to achieve the joint interests of the two friendly countries.


Also on Thursday, Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, received Mark Lancaster in his office at Muaskar Bait Al Falaj.


The meeting reviewed the aspects of military cooperation between the two friendly countries and means of enhancing them. They also shared views on issues of mutual interest.


The visit coincides with the ongoing national exercise ‘Al Shumookh 2’ and the joint exercise Al Saif Sareea 3, being carried out by the Sultan’s Armed Forces and the British Armed Forces.


The British guest praised the good preparations and measures taken to receive the Royal British Armed Forces taking part in the exercises.


The meeting was attended by Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, and from the British side by the UK Ambassador to the Sultanate, Gen Sir Christopher Michael Deverell, Commander of the UK’s Joint Forces Command, Lt Gen Sir John Gordon Lorimer, the Defence Senior Adviser to the Middle East and the accompanying delegation.


After the meeting, the two sides issued the following communique:


“Al Saif Sareea 3 is a joint military exercise that will take place in the second half of October 2018 between the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces and UK Armed Forces. The exercise is not only a clear manifestation of the deep-rooted friendly relations between the two countries, it also forms a part of their bilateral training plans. As well as sharing and exchanging expertise of joint military operations. This milestone joint military venture is a successor to the previous joint exercises: Al Saif Sareea 1 and 2, and is aimed at enhancing the combat effectiveness and readiness of both countries’ armed forces.


The Sultan’s Armed Forces will participate fully in this major exercise, where all land, air and naval units, government agencies and other security services will work side by side with British counterparts.


To achieve the overall objectives, the exercise also aims at enhancing cooperation through contemporary joint military doctrine and plans, relevant to modern technology, inter-agency cooperation, interoperability, and strategic planning. Today’s combat operations call for the use and optimisation of all elements of national power following a modern approach to joint operational planning. The two governments of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are keen to conduct such an exercise between the Armed Forces of the two friendly countries.


Both countries have enjoyed strong bonds that have existed for centuries, and served as a model of defence cooperation. These relations have developed from strength to strength and have withstood the test of time, despite the changing global economic and political environment”. — ONA


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