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Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a new multinational maritime defense alliance aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, while protecting vital international trade and energy supply routes.
Bangladesh is among the 14 member countries in the Saudi-led coalition.
In a statement issued on Thursday (July 30), the Saudi Ministry of Defense said the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance was established to strengthen joint maritime defense cooperation among participating nations.
Member states said the alliance’s primary objective is to ensure the security of one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, which connects the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, guaranteeing safe passage for international shipping, global trade, and energy transportation.
According to analysts, the initiative comes amid rising tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. While a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas exports has traditionally passed through the Strait of Hormuz, instability in the region has increased pressure on the global economy.
At the same time, the Bab al-Mandeb-Red Sea-Gulf of Aden shipping route has come under growing threat following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia said representatives from 43 of the 51 countries invited attended the alliance’s founding meeting. A delegation from the European Union (EU) also participated.
Although the EU already operates the Aspides naval security mission in the Red Sea, it remains unclear how the new Saudi-led alliance will differ from that mission.
Besides Saudi Arabia, the alliance includes Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan, and the Comoros.
However, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have not yet joined the alliance, despite sharing similar security interests amid the regional tensions involving Iran.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense said the alliance will remain open to additional countries once they complete the necessary national procedures for membership.
The ministry emphasized that maritime security is a shared responsibility and that enhanced cooperation and coordination are the most effective ways to address transnational maritime threats.
While details on the number of warships or aircraft each member will contribute have not been disclosed, the alliance is expected to focus on intelligence sharing, joint operational planning, coordinated military exercises, and combined maritime operations.
Saudi Arabia stressed that the alliance is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any specific country. The alliance’s headquarters will be located in Saudi Arabia, although its exact location has not yet been announced.
Last week, Yemen’s Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil shipments through the Red Sea. Since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran earlier this year, the Strait of Hormuz has become largely inaccessible.
Saudi Arabia has continued transporting crude oil from its eastern oil facilities to the Red Sea port of Yanbu through its East-West Pipeline.
However, exports from Yanbu must still pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The narrow waterway, located between Eritrea, Djibouti, and Yemen, remains vulnerable because the Yemeni side of the strait is controlled by the Houthis, leaving commercial vessels exposed to potential attacks.
Approximately 10 to 12 percent of global maritime trade and several million barrels of oil pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait every day.
At only 29 kilometers wide, any disruption to this critical shipping lane could trigger renewed volatility and higher prices in global energy markets.