Parrikar to visit UAE, Oman

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will leave on a five-day visit to UAE and Oman next week as part of India's outreach to the strategically important and energy-rich middle east.
Parrikar, who is set to leave for UAE on May 18, will call on the top leadership there and hold bilateral talks with his counterpart.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited UAE last year.
Parrikar's visit to the country comes just ahead of an air exercise being held between the air force of the two countries this month.
Indian fighter planes will stop by in UAE on the way back from the Red Flag air exercise in the US.

Following Modi's visit, India and UAE had decided to establish a strategic security dialogue and boost defence ties besides resolving to work together in counter-terrorism operations, combating money laundering, drug trafficking and trans-national crimes.

The two sides had agreed to strengthen defence relations, including through regular exercises and training of naval, air, land and special forces, besides cooperation in coastal defence.
The UAE also conveyed to India that it will cooperate in manufacture of defence equipment in India.
Ahead of Parrikar's visit, a flotilla of three warships had reached Dubai on May 7 to demonstrate India's commitment to maritime relations with countries in the Gulf region.

He will visit Oman, considered to be closest to India among the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), on May 20.
Oman had signed a military protocol with India in 1972, which led to a three-year deputation of Indian Navy personnel to man Oman's Navy in 1973.
An MoU on defence cooperation was also signed between India and Oman in 2005.
Areas of cooperation include joint military exercises, military training and IT, educational courses and exchange of observers and formal visits.
India had trained 150 Omani military personnel in 2014-15.