Saudi Arabia forms 14‑state military coalition to protect Red Sea shipping
Riyadh says 14 countries backed the plan; coalition to focus on defensive operations, intelligence sharing and protecting shipping through Bab el‑Mandeb.
Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that it has established a 14-state military coalition to protect maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Bab el‑Mandeb strait.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense said representatives from 43 countries and the European Union attended an international meeting at which the coalition was formed, with Saudi Arabia as the founding and leading state. Riyadh also wants the coalition's headquarters to be located in the city of Riyadh.
The declaration was endorsed by 14 countries, including Turkey, Jordan, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. Oman and the United Arab Emirates, Gulf Arab states, did not join the coalition.
Response to Houthi attacks
Saudi officials said the move follows recent attacks on Saudi-linked vessels by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. The ministry described the coalition's objective as the protection of freedom of navigation, international trade routes and global energy reserves through joint military operations, planning and exercises and the exchange of intelligence.
Riyadh stressed that the alliance will have an exclusively defensive nature and is not directed against any country, international organization or other alliance. The decision came after the Houthis on 20 July imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and since then have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on vessels linked to Saudi interests. Riyadh responded with airstrikes on Houthi military sites in the Yemeni city of Hodeida.
The Bab el‑Mandeb strait, which connects the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is a key maritime route for global trade and energy supplies. The European Union launched a maritime mission in the Red Sea in 2024 to help restore and protect freedom of navigation after the Houthis suspended shipping and attacked vessels in an expression of solidarity with the Palestinians during the war in the Gaza Strip. For navigational protection, the European maritime mission "Aspides" and the U.S. operation "Prosperous Guardian" were also formed.
Photo: press material from the event
