Saudi Arabia launches maritime alliance covering Red Sea routes

Key points

• Saudi Arabia and 13 countries announced a coalition focused on navigation security in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
• The Saudi Defence Ministry said members will coordinate intelligence, operational planning, exercises and maritime missions, without specifying national ship or aircraft commitments.
• Delegates from 43 of 51 invited countries attended the founding meeting, which included a European Union delegation, the ministry reported.
• Signatories include Türkiye, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan, Comoros, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, alongside Saudi Arabia.
• The ministry said the alliance is defensive, headquartered in Saudi Arabia and open to additional members; the United Arab Emirates and Oman did not sign.