Saudi Arabia, 13 Other Nations Form Maritime Defence Alliance To Secure Red Sea Routes
Saudi Arabia, 13 Other Nations Form Maritime Defence Alliance To Secure Red Sea Routes Reported By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 14:42 IST Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, 13 Other Nations Form Maritime Defence Alliance To Secure Red Sea Routes Reported By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 14:42 IST Saudi Arabia will lead the coalition, which also includes Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt, to protect trade and energy routes across the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. Rapid Read A satellite imagery shows Bab el Mandeb Strait, a key shipping waterway and the gateway to the Red Sea. (REUTERS) Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries, including Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt, have announced the establishment of a multinational maritime defence alliance aimed at protecting critical trade and energy corridors across the Red Sea and surrounding waterways. The coalition will be led by Saudi Arabia, which will also host its permanent headquarters, according to a joint statement issued by the founding countries. The initiative comes amid escalating regional hostilities and growing concerns over attacks on commercial shipping, disruption to energy supplies and threats to freedom of navigation.
Pakistan Among Founding Countries The alliance brings together Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia. Representatives of the 14 countries met in Riyadh on July 30 and expressed their intention to establish the Multinational Maritime Defence Alliance in accordance with the United Nations Charter, international law and recognised international conventions. The participating governments will now complete their respective domestic constitutional and legal procedures required to formally join the alliance’s charter. Focus On Red Sea And Bab El-Mandeb The coalition will focus on securing some of the world’s most important maritime routes, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These waterways serve as vital corridors for international trade and energy shipments connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The founding countries said increasing threats to maritime security had underlined the need for stronger coordination and collective action to protect commercial shipping, energy supply routes and freedom of navigation.
Joint Command And Maritime Operations Centre The organisational structure will include a joint command, a fleet command, a joint maritime operations centre and a general secretariat in the kingdom. The alliance will facilitate intelligence and information sharing, operational coordination, joint military exercises, training programmes and maritime drills. Its administrative and operational mechanisms will be finalised through executive regulations approved by the alliance’s governing council. Alliance Described As Defensive The founding statement described the coalition as a defensive arrangement that would not target any particular country, alliance or international organisation. Its activities will be conducted in accordance with international law and the principles of state sovereignty and freedom of navigation. Participation in alliance operations will remain subject to the sovereign decisions, domestic laws and procedures of each member state. More Countries Invited To Join The founding nations also invited other countries that share the alliance’s maritime security objectives to formally join its charter. The coalition is intended to expand collective maritime security cooperation across the Bab el-Mandeb, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden at a time when regional conflicts have increasingly threatened shipping and energy infrastructure.
The BriefWire