Saudi Arabia Announces Red Sea Defense Alliance, 13 Countries Join
Al Jazeera Staff
Saudi Arabia and 13 other nations have formally established a multinational maritime defense alliance to protect shipping through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. The move comes amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthi forces on Saudi-flagged vessels.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced on August 13 that 15 countries have signed a joint statement on establishing a multinational maritime defense alliance, with 13 countries having completed procedures and officially joined. The initial members are Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, and Yemen.
Earlier, in late July, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced plans to form the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance to enhance collective maritime security cooperation. The ministry described the alliance as "an open international alliance, welcoming all nations that share the same goals and principles," and noted that it continues to accept new membership applications.
The announcement came after the alliance's third meeting, held in Jeddah on August 13. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense called it a "true launch milestone" for the alliance, moving into a phase of institutional and operational activation.
Under the plan, member states will exchange information and intelligence, develop operational plans, conduct joint naval exercises, enhance military capabilities, and carry out coordinated naval operations. Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri has been appointed as the alliance's commander, responsible for coordinating with member states and other maritime alliances.
The alliance's formation comes amid escalating Red Sea tensions, as ships flying Saudi flags on the Bab al-Mandeb-Red Sea-Gulf of Aden route have been repeatedly attacked by Yemen's Houthi forces. The group, which is believed to have backing from Iran, has controlled the capital Sanaa since 2014 and confronts the internationally recognized government in the port city of Aden.
Ahmed Nagi, senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the new alliance could be significant, but its effectiveness will depend on how it operates in practice. He cited previous maritime security initiatives, created during the piracy crisis in the Gulf of Aden, which, although politically meaningful, often struggled to achieve concrete results.
From Riyadh's perspective, Nagi said, the response to attacks should not be borne by Saudi Arabia alone but requires broader international efforts. He stressed that the alliance is currently largely defensive, with no signs of launching offensive campaigns against the Houthis, but Saudi Arabia may not stay silent if attacks continue.
"The ultimate goal is to raise the cost of Houthi attacks and create a stronger deterrent. The message Saudi Arabia wants to send is that these attacks not only target Saudi interests but also affect international shipping and global trade," Nagi said.
