Saudi-led multinational naval coalition launched to safeguard Red Sea shipping

The founding nations of a new multinational maritime defense coalition announced on Tuesday, in a joint statement from Riyadh, the official establishment of the alliance to strengthen maritime security and safeguard freedom of navigation and international trade routes, particularly in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

The statement affirmed the founding governments' commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, stressing that maritime security is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation and coordination among states to confront cross-border maritime threats, thereby supporting global stability and prosperity.

Coalition objectives and operational framework

The statement explained that the coalition provides a framework for maritime defense cooperation, aiming to protect shared maritime interests and secure energy supply routes, with full adherence to international law, United Nations conventions, and global norms.

It noted that participating countries will complete their internal procedures to formally join the coalition charter, emphasizing that participation in coalition activities and operations remains a sovereign decision for each nation, in accordance with their national regulations.

The statement added that the coalition is strictly defensive in nature, does not target any country, alliance, or international organization, and operates with respect for state sovereignty and the protection of freedom of navigation.

Coalition leadership and invitation to join

The statement clarified that Saudi Arabia will serve as the founding and leading nation of the coalition, hosting the permanent headquarters, as well as the joint command, command and control center, joint maritime operations center, and the general secretariat as the coalition's main executive bodies.

The statement invited countries that share the coalition's objectives and principles to join, contributing to broader cooperation and enhanced collective maritime security in these vital regions.

The founding nations concluded by emphasizing that the establishment of the coalition marks a strategic step to bolster maritime security, strengthen defense cooperation among member states, and support stability in coordination with international efforts to protect global peace and security.