Saudi seeks 43-nation alliance to secure Red Sea.
Fourteen nations support Riyadh’s proposed maritime coalition to strengthen Red Sea security and safeguard vital international shipping routes.
Key points to note
- New proposal: Saudi Arabia has proposed a 43-country maritime defence alliance covering the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden.
- Initial backing: Fourteen countries, including Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and several Gulf and African nations, have endorsed the initiative.
- Notable absence: The UAE and Oman were not among the initial signatories.
- Primary objective: The alliance aims to protect international shipping lanes, energy routes and maritime infrastructure from attacks.
- Saudi leadership: Saudi Arabia would lead the coalition and host its headquarters.
- Future expansion: Membership remains open to additional countries after completing domestic approval procedures.
- Regional backdrop: The initiative follows renewed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and growing concerns over the security of global trade routes.
Saudi Arabia proposes 43-nation maritime defence alliance to secure Red Sea
In a significant move to strengthen security along one of the world’s most important maritime corridors, Saudi Arabia has proposed the creation of a multinational maritime defence alliance involving 43 countries to protect the Red Sea and safeguard vital global trade routes amid rising regional tensions.
The proposal was announced on Thursday, July 30, after the Saudi Ministry of Defence hosted a meeting in Riyadh attended by chiefs of staff and military representatives from 43 nations, along with a European Union delegation.
Goals and scope of the alliance
According to the Saudi Ministry of Defence, the proposed alliance aims to enhance maritime security, protect international shipping lanes and energy supply routes, and counter growing threats targeting commercial vessels.
Saudi Arabia would serve as the founding and leading state of the coalition while hosting its headquarters, placing the kingdom at the centre of a new regional maritime security framework.
During the meeting, participants discussed the draft charter, organisational structure, command and control arrangements, operational mechanisms and the steps needed before the alliance is formally launched.
Military planners from participating countries will continue developing the coalition’s legal and institutional framework. The initiative will remain open to all nations that share its objectives after completing their respective domestic approval procedures.
Fourteen nations endorse the proposal
Following the meeting, 14 participating countries issued a joint statement supporting the proposed alliance.
The signatories are:
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- Pakistan
- Türkiye
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Yemen
- Bangladesh
- Nigeria
- Sudan
- Djibouti
- Somalia
Saudi officials said several additional countries had also expressed support and are completing their national procedures before formally joining. The option to sign the joint declaration remains open to other participating nations.
Red Sea tensions and strategic importance
The proposal comes as attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea continue to fuel concerns over global trade and energy security.
On July 20, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced what it described as a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and has since claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Saudi-linked vessels.
In response, Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen’s Hodeidah, saying the sites were being used to threaten international shipping.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, carrying a substantial share of global trade and energy shipments.
Disruptions in the waterway can affect international supply chains, influence oil prices and increase the cost of goods across Europe, Asia and other regions.
Saudi Arabia said the proposed alliance reflects a shared international commitment to protecting freedom of navigation, securing global supply chains and strengthening collective maritime security against evolving regional threats.
What to watch next
For now, the alliance remains under development as military and legal teams work to finalise its charter and operational framework.
The absence of the UAE and Oman among the first group of signatories highlights the complex regional dynamics surrounding the initiative.
If formally established, the coalition could become a major pillar of Red Sea security.