NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Jordan and Oman in mid-December amidst ongoing efforts by West Asian countries to uphold the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. While this would be Modi’s second visit to Oman, which is among the countries that India is expected to soon sign a free trade agreement with, the only time he visited Jordan earlier was in 2018 when he transited through the country on his way to Ramallah, becoming the first Indian PM to visit Palestine.
Modi had last visited Oman in 2018. India and Oman have concluded negotiations for a free trade deal but a formal signing of the agreement is still awaited. If Oman authorities are able to complete all domestic formalities in the next few weeks, the agreement could become the highlight of Modi’s visit.
The Gaza issue is likely to figure prominently in Modi’s engagements with both King Abdullah II of Jordan and Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who had visited India in 2023. With a large diaspora and considerable energy and connectivity interests in the region, India has been consistent in its support for efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, including the Trump peace plan, ensure release of hostages and return to dialogue and diplomacy. India also sees Trump's peace plan as in line with its long-standing support for a negotiated two-State solution.
Both countries earlier this year strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack with the Jordanian king expressing condolences and seeking an end to terrorism in all its forms and manifestation in a phone call with Modi.
Apart from efforts to boost trade and investment, talks in Amman could also focus on IMEC with Jordan looking to act as a key transit country for the Corridor. According to the Indian government, trade and investment cooperation between the two sides has broadened, with India emerging as the 4th largest trading partner of Jordan in 2023-24 with bilateral trade worth $ 2.8 billion.
In the case of Oman, according to the Indian foreign ministry, it is also India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region and defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between India and Oman. Oman is the first Gulf country with which all the three wings of India’s defense forces hold joint exercises, according to the MEA.
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