Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake significant diplomatic visits to Jordan and Oman in mid-December, according to official sources. This strategic travel comes at a crucial time when West Asian nations are intensifying efforts to maintain the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The upcoming visit marks an important milestone in India's growing engagement with West Asia. This would be Modi's second official visit to Oman, following his previous trip in 2018. The Oman visit holds particular significance as the country is among those expected to soon sign a free trade agreement with India.
For Jordan, this represents a more substantial engagement compared to Modi's previous interaction with the country. The Prime Minister had only transited through Jordan in 2018 during his historic visit to Ramallah, where he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Palestine.
Key Agenda Items
The Gaza situation is expected to dominate discussions during Modi's meetings with both King Abdullah II of Jordan and Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The latter had visited India in 2023, strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
India has maintained a consistent position supporting ceasefire efforts in Gaza, including the Trump peace plan, which aligns with New Delhi's long-standing support for a negotiated two-State solution. With substantial diaspora presence and significant energy and connectivity interests in the region, India has actively advocated for hostage release and diplomatic resolutions.
Economic and Strategic Partnerships
The potential free trade agreement with Oman could become the centerpiece of Modi's visit if Omani authorities complete domestic formalities in the coming weeks. India and Oman have already concluded negotiations for the free trade deal, though formal signing is still pending.
In the case of Jordan, discussions in Amman are likely to focus on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with Jordan positioning itself as a key transit country for this strategic corridor. Bilateral trade between India and Jordan has shown remarkable growth, with India emerging as Jordan's fourth largest trading partner in 2023-24 with bilateral trade valued at $2.8 billion.
Defense cooperation forms another crucial aspect of India's relationship with Oman. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Oman is India's closest defense partner in the Gulf region, becoming the first Gulf country to conduct joint exercises with all three wings of India's defense forces.
The relationship between India and Jordan was further strengthened earlier this year when both countries strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack. King Abdullah II expressed condolences to PM Modi during a phone conversation and emphasized the need to end terrorism in all its forms.
