Saudi Arabia has said it hosted an international meeting in Riyadh to finalise the creation of a multinational maritime defence alliance aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al Mandeb Strait, as at least 14 countries declare their support for the alliance.
In a statement, the Saudi defence ministry said the meeting on Thursday was attended by chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries, as well as a delegation from the European Union, to discuss ways of enhancing the security of international maritime routes and counter threats to global navigation and trade.
According to the statement, 14 countries issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the meeting “declaring their support for the alliance, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Türkiye, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, and the Comoros.”
“The door remains open for other countries to join after completing their national procedures,” the ministry said.
It said the meeting addressed the growing threats to maritime security, including the security of commercial vessels, oil tankers, and maritime infrastructure. It also explored ways to strengthen multilateral defence cooperation to protect supply chains and the global economy.
Participants also discussed the draft alliance charter, its organisational structure, command and control arrangements, and future operational mechanisms, the ministry said.
“This aims to establish an effective institutional framework for cooperation in confronting shared maritime threats in areas including the Bab al Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden,” it added.
The ministry said participants reached understandings on finalising the establishment procedures, including the final draft of the alliance charter and completing the necessary organisational structures and technical arrangements, paving the way for the alliance's launch and the commencement of its operations.
“The alliance represents an international defence initiative open to all countries wishing to join and aims to protect freedom of navigation and global trade and to enhance regional and international security and stability in the face of threats targeting international maritime routes,” it added.
The move comes amid escalating threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea after Yemen’s Houthi group declared what it called a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20 and subsequently claimed attacks on Saudi-linked vessels.
Riyadh has vowed to protect maritime traffic and respond to threats against international navigation.
