Saudi Arabia launches 14 nation maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping

Saudi Arabia has announced the creation of a Saudi Arabia maritime coalition involving 13 partner countries to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following an increase in Houthi attacks. The move comes after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, disrupting oil shipments and contributing to higher global energy prices.

The initiative was unveiled after representatives from 43 countries and the European Union met in Riyadh to discuss regional maritime security. Fourteen countries signed the joint declaration establishing the alliance. They include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.

The new organization, named the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, will be headquartered in Saudi Arabia. Its mission will focus on joint military operations, intelligence sharing and coordinated maritime patrols. Participating countries described the alliance as purely defensive and stated that it is not directed against any state, alliance or international organization.

The United Arab Emirates and Oman were absent from the list of Gulf states endorsing the declaration. The United States and several European countries were invited but have not yet confirmed whether they will join the initiative.

Commercial traffic through the Red Sea has declined sharply as security risks have increased. According to Reuters, only 11 vessels crossed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait during a recent weekend, compared with more than 70 ships per day before 2023. Reuters previously reported on July 29 that Saudi Arabia was seeking to establish such a coalition.

The Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi-flagged vessels and oil tankers since announcing their blockade. The group has also threatened to impose fees on nearly all commercial shipping passing through the strategic waterway. Brent crude rose to $88.09 per barrel this week after closing near $72 at the beginning of July. Prices briefly exceeded $100 per barrel last week amid growing concerns over supply disruptions.

Regional diplomatic efforts have continued alongside the military initiative. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday. According to Axios, as cited by Al Jazeera, the minister said Saudi Arabia seeks to avoid further escalation while remaining prepared to defend itself. He also stated that the kingdom does not currently require direct US involvement in managing the confrontation with the Houthis.

The coalition was announced only days after Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out joint strikes against Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Iraq. Riyadh accused those groups of launching drone attacks against Saudi territory. Iraq was not included in the new alliance after Baghdad condemned the strikes and its prime minister canceled a planned official visit to Riyadh.