By Hussein Elkabany  

MUSCAT 

Oman and the UK will hold a joint military exercise next month, according to the official Omani news agency.  

The announcement came as Omani Minister Responsible for Defense Badr bin Saud al-Busaidi held talks in Muscat on Wednesday with visiting Vice Admiral Timothy Fraser, Chief of UK Joint Operations.  

Talks dwelt on the ongoing preparations to hold the Swift Sword Maneuvers 3 drill in Oman in the second half of October, the news agency said.  

The drill aims to exchange combat and logistical expertise in joint military operations with a view to increasing capabilities and maintaining readiness and operational efficiency of the armed forces of both countries. 

Al-Busaidi underlined the importance of the military exercise “for achieving the aspired-for goals”.  

Fraser, for his part, hailed preparations for the exercise “to give a message about the current cooperation between the two countries”.