Saudi Arabia launches 14-nation maritime defense pact

Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a 14-nation maritime defense alliance on Thursday, July 30, 2026, aiming to secure vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The move is a direct response to escalating attacks on commercial vessels, primarily by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel group in Yemen, which have threatened a critical corridor for global trade and energy supplies.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense stated that the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance is intended to strengthen collective defense cooperation, protect freedom of navigation, and secure international trade and energy supply routes. The alliance was formalized during a meeting in Riyadh attended by military representatives from 43 countries and a European Union delegation. According to the official announcement, the 14 founding signatory nations are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan, and Nigeria. Notably absent from the list are fellow Gulf states Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The ministry described the alliance as purely defensive, stating it does not target any state or...