Saudi Arabia hosts founding meeting for international maritime coalition in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday, July 30, 2026, that it hosted a meeting in Riyadh for chiefs of staff and representatives from allied and friendly countries, along with the European Union delegation to the Kingdom, to discuss Saudi Arabia's initiative to establish a multinational maritime defense coalition.

The ministry stated that the meeting aimed to enhance maritime security, protect international sea lanes, and counter threats to global navigation and trade.

Chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries, as well as the European Union delegation, participated in the meeting, out of 51 countries and organizations invited. Attendees stressed the importance of unifying international efforts to address current maritime threats.

Coalition discussions in detail

Participants discussed the draft charter of the coalition, its organizational structure, command and control arrangements, and future operational mechanisms. The meeting agreed that Saudi Arabia would serve as the founding and leading nation of the coalition and would host its headquarters.

Saudi Arabia affirmed that the coalition is an international defensive initiative open to all countries wishing to join, aiming to strengthen collective maritime security and safeguard freedom of navigation and global trade.

Joint statement and coalition formation stages

In this context, 14 countries issued a joint statement supporting the initiative: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to complete the foundational procedures for launching the coalition, enhancing collective capabilities to protect international maritime corridors and support regional and global security and stability.