- Saudi Arabia has announced plans to establish a multinational maritime defence coalition to protect the Red Sea, as Houthi attacks continue to threaten one of the world's busiest trade corridors.
- Saudi Arabia said the alliance would safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, protect international trade and energy routes, and strengthen cooperation among participating countries amid heightened instability in the Middle East.
- According to Saudi officials, the coalition seeks to improve defence coordination, protect shared maritime interests and ensure the uninterrupted flow of international commerce through strategic waterways that connect Europe, Asia and Africa.
- The coalition proposal follows a sharp escalation in attacks linked to Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis.
- The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
- It carries about 12-15 per cent of global seaborne trade and a significant volume of oil shipments.
Saudi Arabia has initiated a multinational maritime coalition to safeguard the Red Sea amid increasing threats from Houthi attacks. This coalition, supported by 14 countries including Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt, aims to protect vital trade routes and enhance defense coordination.12
The coalition's formation comes in response to a sharp escalation in attacks linked to Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, which jeopardize one of the world's busiest trade corridors. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint, connects the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, carrying approximately 12-15 percent of global seaborne trade and a significant volume of oil shipments.5
Saudi officials emphasized that the coalition will not only protect shared maritime interests but also ensure the uninterrupted flow of international commerce through strategic waterways connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. The joint statement from the participating countries highlights a commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and strengthening cooperation amid heightened instability in the region.3
As the situation evolves, the coalition's effectiveness in countering Houthi threats will be closely monitored, given the strategic importance of the Red Sea for global trade and energy routes.
“The coalition aims to safeguard freedom of navigation and ensure the uninterrupted flow of international commerce through strategic waterways connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. This initiative follows a sharp escalation in attacks linked to Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, highlighting the region's growing instability.”
