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Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem al-Shehri, commander of the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC), has said protecting international waterways is a collective global responsibility.
Speaking to reporters after the coalition’s fourth planning meeting in Jeddah on Friday, al-Shehri said the MMDC had achieved its initial operational capability.
“Any threat to international maritime security will be deterred,” he said.
The 14-country military alliance was formed in July to help keep key waterways around the Arabian Peninsula open to international shipping, including the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea.
Al-Shehri said the coalition’s latest milestone marked the beginning of its operational role in safeguarding maritime security and freedom of navigation.