Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis Al Raisi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) received at the Maritime Security Centre (MSC) a delegation from the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom (UK), headed by retired Air Vice Marshal Philip Thomas Giles (photo).

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views and reviewed several military issues of common interests, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The meeting was attended by Brigadier Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Mandhari, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Planning and several Senior SAF Officers.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Za’abi, Secretary General at the Ministry of Defence also received in his office at Al Murtafaa Garrison the visiting delegation from the Royal College of Defence Studies. The two sides discussed several matters of mutual interest.

Lastly, Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs also received the Royal College of Defence Studies delegation whom he briefed on Oman’s foreign policy and Oman’s stance regarding various regional and international issues.

The meeting was attended by Munthir Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Head of the Europe Department, retired Air Vice Marshal Philip Thomas Giles, Head of the British delegation, and several officials from the Foreign Ministry.

The delegation also visited the Maritime Security Centre (MSC) in Muscat. The members of the delegation toured the Centre’s facilities and viewed its latest equipment and technologies used in carrying out its national duties. They were briefed on the tactical roles and tasks carried out by the Centre in the safety of the maritime environment.

Finally, the delegation visited the National Defence College (NDC) at Bait Al Falaj Garrison. Upon the guests’ arrival at the NDC, they were greeted by Rear Admiral Ali Abdullah Al Shidi, Commandant of the NDC.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed several matters of mutual interest, particularly academic and training matters.

Members of the visiting delegation were briefed on the College’s facilities and equipment, as well as its various departments and halls designed according to the latest specifications and equipped with the best educational systems, training aids and multi-purpose electronic network systems.

Last week, the British delegation paid a seven-day visit to Jordan, first leg of its 3-week Overseas Study Tour to the region which, in addition to Oman, incudes Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, according to the British Embassy in Amman