Saudi Arabia unveils 14-nation maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks

Coalition formation

On 30 July, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of a Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition after hosting military chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries and the European Union in Riyadh. Fourteen states signed a joint statement backing the alliance, with Saudi Arabia as the founding and leading nation and its headquarters in the capital. The signatories include Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Somalia, and the internationally recognised government of Yemen.

The alliance is aimed at enhancing maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, securing international trade routes and energy supply routes, and protecting shared maritime interests in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Saudi defence ministry said the coalition is "purely defensive" and does not target any state, alliance, or international organisation. Members will share intelligence, conduct joint maritime operations and exercises, and coordinate planning. The signatories still need to complete internal procedures for formal accession, the ministry noted, while other participating countries expressed support but are still building domestic consensus to join. The door remains open for additional states.

Houthi escalation

The announcement follows a sharp rise in tensions. On 20 July, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. On the night of 23 July, the group attacked two Saudi oil tankers. Riyadh responded with airstrikes on what it described as Houthi military facilities in the port of Hodeidah used to threaten commercial shipping. The truce that had held for four years between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia collapsed on 13 July, when the kingdom bombed Sanaa airport, according to the rebels. The internationally recognised Yemeni government accused the Houthis of seeking to imitate Iran by imposing transit fees on vessels passing through the strait, a move that could push oil prices higher.

Strategic chokepoint

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has become critical for Saudi oil exports since the Iran war effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in late February. Crude from the kingdom's Eastern Province is piped to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and loaded onto tankers. The Houthis control the Yemeni side of the strait, and their blockade threat endangers a route that carries not only Saudi crude but also global container traffic and industrial commodities such as sulphur. A prolonged disruption would add to supply-chain strains already felt in Europe and beyond.

Notable absentees

The United Arab Emirates and Oman, both Gulf neighbours with similar security concerns, were not among the 14 signatories. The Saudi ministry did not explain their absence but reiterated that the coalition remains open. The alliance does, however, bring together a regional quartet of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, which have increasingly coordinated their positions on threats from Iran and Israel.

Broader context

The Red Sea has been a flashpoint since 2023, when the Houthis began attacking commercial vessels in what they said was solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. The United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian and the EU deployed its own naval mission, Operation Aspides, in 2024 to safeguard navigation. The new Saudi-led coalition adds a regional layer to these efforts, with a focus on collective defence and intelligence sharing.