The move will
augment the Indian Navy’s role as a net security provider amid the ongoing
crisis in the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean region. The port provides a logistical base for India in the field of maritime
cooperation. It will also enhance India’s role as a first responder in
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, said people familiar with the
matter.
The development will add significantly to India’s
growing footprint in the region where the Indian Navy plays a key role in
anti-piracy operations. Over the past few months, the navy has also assisted
several vessels being hit by Houthis from Yemen.
The port is easily
accessible to the shipping lines catering to Indian as well as African markets. Access to the port holds a strategic benefit for India as it overlooks
the Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. It is located in the Al
Wusta governorate of Oman. Integrated into the special economic zone at Duqm
and located 550 km south of capital Muscat, it is equipped with a ship repair
yard and dry dock facility.