Saudi Arabia has said it hosted an international meeting in Riyadh to finalise the creation of a multinational maritime defence alliance aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al Mandeb Strait, as at least 14 countries declare their support for the alliance.
In a statement, the Saudi defence ministry said the meeting on Thursday was attended by chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries, as well as a delegation from the European Union, to discuss ways of enhancing the security of international maritime routes and counter threats to global navigation and trade.
According to the statement, 14 countries issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the meeting “declaring their support for the alliance, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Türkiye, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, and the Comoros.”
“The door remains open for other countries to join after completing their national procedures,” the ministry said.
It said the meeting addressed the growing threats to maritime security, including the security of commercial vessels, oil tankers, and maritime infrastructure. It also explored ways to strengthen multilateral defence cooperation to protect supply chains and the global economy.
Participants also discussed the draft alliance charter, its organisational structure, command and control arrangements, and future operational mechanisms, the ministry said.
