The Royal Saudi Naval Forces and the Royal Navy of Oman announced the conclusion of the joint bilateral naval exercise “Winds of Peace,” which took place in Omani waters. The closing ceremony was attended by a number of senior military commanders from both countries, culminating a period of intensive training aimed at enhancing joint operations and raising combat readiness.
General context and historical background
The “Winds of Peace” exercise is part of a series of periodic military maneuvers between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, reflecting the deep fraternal relations and strategic partnership between the two countries, particularly in the defense field. These exercises are an integral part of the joint Gulf military cooperation framework under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which aims to unify military concepts and coordinate efforts to confront common challenges and protect regional interests.
Exercise objectives and their achievement
In this context, the exercise commander, Rear Admiral Mohammed bin Ayed Al-Otaibi, confirmed that the maneuvers had successfully achieved their objectives. He explained that the main goals included exchanging military expertise in modern naval operations and maritime security, and enhancing the speed of response to various potential threats. He added that the exercise significantly contributed to unifying operational concepts between the two navies during the preparation, planning, and execution phases, thereby increasing the efficiency of joint coordination in monitoring and protecting vital maritime shipping lanes.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
These exercises are of paramount strategic importance given the region's sensitive geographic location, which includes vital waterways for global trade and energy supplies, such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. The "Winds of Peace" exercise enhances joint defense capabilities to secure these waterways against any threats, whether piracy, smuggling, or maritime terrorism. Regionally, the exercise sends a clear message of Gulf unity and high readiness to ensure regional stability and deter any attempts to undermine its security. Internationally, these efforts contribute to reassuring the international community and trading partners about the continued safety of maritime navigation in one of the most important arteries of the global economy.
Details of the field maneuvers
The exercise featured a wide range of advanced and specialized drills simulating realistic scenarios. These included complex naval formations and exercises, specialized naval aviation training, maritime counter-terrorism operations, and the application of "VIP" procedures for suspect vessels. Search and rescue operations, electronic warfare drills, and scenarios for countering fast boat attacks were also conducted, in addition to securing maritime routes and protecting commercial vessels. Brigadier General Al-Otaibi noted that the maneuvers included live-fire exercises with missiles and ammunition by His Majesty's ships, emphasizing that participants from both sides demonstrated a high level of professionalism, advanced combat readiness, and complete proficiency in executing all assigned operations.
