On August 13, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced that the kingdom, along with 13 other nations, had established a maritime military alliance to protect freedom of passage through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The alliance is expected to strengthen joint maritime defense cooperation among participating countries.
According to the statement, member states committed to protecting maritime freedom, ensuring the safety of international trade routes and energy supply lines through these three critical sea lanes connecting the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean. This is a strategic maritime corridor through which approximately 10-12% of global maritime trade and millions of barrels of oil pass daily.
The move comes amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions centered on the Strait of Hormuz, which has nearly shut down a vital route that once carried about 20% of global oil and gas exports, severely impacting the world economy. Recently, the Bab el-Mandeb–Red Sea–Gulf of Aden route has also faced repeated attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen.
Representatives from 43 of the 51 invited countries attended the alliance's founding meeting. A European Union delegation was also present, while the EU currently maintains its own naval protection mission, Aspides, in the Red Sea. The distinction between the Saudi-led alliance and existing initiatives remains unclear.
Besides Saudi Arabia, signatory countries reportedly include Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan, and Comoros. Notably, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman did not join despite having similar regional security objectives.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense emphasized that “the door remains open for other countries to join after completing national procedures.” The alliance is headquartered in Saudi Arabia, considered a founding member.
Alliance activities will include intelligence and information sharing, operational planning, organizing exercises, and joint maritime operations. The statement stressed that the alliance is “purely defensive and does not target any country.” However, it did not specify the warships or aircraft each nation would contribute.
Earlier, Houthi forces in Yemen imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia last week, disrupting crude oil shipments diverted through the Red Sea. Since the war in Iran erupted in late February, Saudi Arabia has maintained most oil exports via the East-West pipeline connecting eastern refineries to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. However, export shipments must pass through Bab al-Mandeb, where the strait is only 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, allowing Houthi forces controlling Yemen's western province to attack vessels.
Experts warn that any disruption in this region could drive global energy prices higher.
