The government of Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a military alliance to protect shipping in the Red Sea and around the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait that would include 14 nations.
Among the participants would be the Gulf states of Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, but also Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.
But notably, the alliance will not include Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The move comes after the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has led attacks against Saudi ships in the Red Sea. The militants have been launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea since 2023.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said the alliance would protect freedom of navigation and international trade routes and global energy supplies.
“Maritime security is a shared responsibility,” the ministry said. This will be achieved through joint military operations, planning and exercises, and the exchange of intelligence.
The Saudi government has said the alliance is “purely defensive” and does not aim to attack any state, other alliance, or international organization.
— dw.com
