Saudi Arabia forms 14-nation maritime defence alliance

Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a new multinational maritime defence alliance with 13

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a new multinational maritime defence alliance with 13 other countries to strengthen security along some of the world’s busiest shipping routes amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence said the coalition has been created to protect freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These waterways are critical for global trade and international energy supplies.

The new alliance includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan and the Comoros.

According to Saudi authorities, representatives from 43 of the 51 invited countries attended the meeting that led to the creation of the alliance. A delegation from the European Union also participated in the discussions.

The ministry said the coalition aims to improve coordination among member states to address growing maritime security challenges. It will focus on intelligence sharing, joint operational planning, military exercises and coordinated maritime operations.

Saudi officials stressed that the alliance is purely defensive and is not intended to target any country. They said its primary objective is to secure international shipping lanes and ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade.

The announcement comes as security concerns continue to grow across the region due to escalating tensions involving Iran and attacks on commercial vessels in strategic waterways.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait has become increasingly important for international shipping. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a vital link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Experts estimate that around 10 to 12 percent of global maritime trade passes through the narrow waterway every year. Millions of barrels of crude oil and petroleum products are transported through the route daily, making it one of the world’s most strategically important sea lanes.

Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route for oil exports through its East-West pipeline, which transports crude from the country’s eastern oil fields to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. However, ships departing from Yanbu must still pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait before reaching international markets.

Regional instability has increased concerns over the safety of commercial shipping. Repeated attacks on vessels operating in the Red Sea have disrupted maritime traffic and raised fears of higher transportation costs and energy prices.