Naseem Al Bahr 15th Edition Held by India and Oman Navies

The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have completed the 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr, their bilateral maritime exercise. The name translates as Sea Breeze. The Ministry of Defence announced the conclusion on 11 November 2026. The exercise was designed to raise interoperability between the two fleets, deepen professional cooperation and build mutual understanding between the two services.

Harbour phase

The exercise ran in two parts. In the harbour phase, specialist teams from the two navies held Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, known as SMEE. The subjects taken up were ones both navies work on closely:

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD, which deals with the handling and safe destruction of unexploded munitions.
• Mine Countermeasure Operations, the work of finding and clearing sea mines.
• Hydrography, the survey of coastal waters, depths and seabed features.

These sessions let officers and sailors on both sides pass on professional knowledge and operational experience in specialised areas of maritime work.

Sea phase

The sea phase brought together Indian Naval Ship Surat and the Royal Navy of Oman vessel Al-Mu'azzar. The two ships carried out joint Visit, Board, Search and Seizure drills, which are the standard procedures for stopping and inspecting a suspect vessel at sea. Cross-deck operations were also practised, with personnel moving between the ships so that each crew could follow the other's drills at close quarters. The purpose was to make coordinated action between the two navies smoother in a real situation.

Why it matters for India

Naseem Al Bahr is one of the older bilateral naval engagements India maintains in the Gulf, and reaching a fifteenth edition points to a steady maritime partnership with Oman. The Ministry of Defence placed the exercise within the government's MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. Under it, the Indian Navy works with maritime partners across the region on security and growth rather than on security alone. Exercises of this kind also keep Indian warships familiar with the waters of the Arabian Sea and the approaches to the Gulf of Oman.