Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a multinational defense coalition Thursday to protect commercial shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Al Arabiya reported that the initiative was unveiled after a meeting in Riyadh that brought together representatives from 43 countries and the European Union.
"The extensive participation reflects growing international interest in strengthening maritime defense cooperation and underscoring the importance of unifying efforts to address shared threats to the security of international sea lanes within the alliance's designated area of responsibility," the state-run Saudi News Agency reported.
The move comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran has increasingly centered on the Strait of Hormuz. Recent disruptions to the strategic waterway, which carried about 20% of worldwide oil and gas exports, are weighing heavily on the global economy.
Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is considered one of the world's most important strategic waterways, through which about 12% of the global energy trade passes.
The passage is at the southernmost point of the Arabian Peninsula and is the main route for ships traveling through the Red Sea to the Suez Canal.
In a recent escalation, the Red Sea-Bab al-Mandab-Gulf of Aden shipping corridor has come under repeated attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
Participants at the meeting reviewed escalating threats to maritime security, including attacks on commercial vessels, energy tankers and critical maritime infrastructure, the Saudi Gazette reported. They warned that such incidents pose risks to freedom of navigation, global supply chains and the international economy.
The meeting also examined the proposed charter for the alliance, its governance framework, organizational structure, command-and-control arrangements, operating mechanisms, and implementation plans.
Delegates also discussed foundational arrangements for the alliance, including Saudi Arabia's role as the founding nation, its leadership of the initiative and its hosting of the alliance's headquarters. The participants said the arrangement reflects international confidence in the kingdom's role in promoting collective maritime security.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia were among those who signed a joint statement supporting the establishment of the coalition, according to the Saudi News Agency.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Clearfield, commander of the U.S. Marine Forces Central Command, and the defense attache at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh represented the United States at the meeting, according to Al Arabiya.
It is unclear what role, if any, the United States will have in the coalition.
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