As many as 14 countries, in a joint statement issued in Riyadh today, announced the establishment of a Saudi-led multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at boosting maritime security, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and securing international trade routes and energy supply lines through the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, in accordance with international law, United Nations conventions, and established international norms.
The founding members said the coalition was created in response to the growing challenges facing global maritime security. It aims to strengthen cooperation in intelligence and information sharing, operational planning, joint exercises, training and capacity building, and the conduct of combined maritime operations, according to the statement.
The statement also emphasized that the coalition is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any country, alliance, or international organization. It also stressed that participation in the coalition’s activities and operations will remain a sovereign decision for each member state in accordance with its national laws and regulations.
Saudi Arabia is the coalition’s founding nation and lead country. It will host the coalition’s permanent headquarters, as well as its command and control center, joint maritime operations rooms, and general secretariat. Participating countries are continuing to complete their respective domestic procedures for formally acceding to the coalition’s charter.
The founding members affirmed that the establishment of the coalition represents a strategic step toward strengthening maritime security in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, while promoting regional stability and prosperity and complementing international efforts to safeguard global peace and security.
As many as 14 countries, in a joint statement issued in Riyadh today, announced the establishment of a Saudi-led multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at boosting maritime security, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and securing international trade routes and energy supply lines through the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, in accordance with international law, United Nations conventions, and established international norms.
The founding members said the coalition was created in response to the growing challenges facing global maritime security. It aims to strengthen cooperation in intelligence and information sharing, operational planning, joint exercises, training and capacity building, and the conduct of combined maritime operations, according to the statement.
The statement also emphasized that the coalition is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any country, alliance, or international organization. It also stressed that participation in the coalition’s activities and operations will remain a sovereign decision for each member state in accordance with its national laws and regulations.
Saudi Arabia is the coalition’s founding nation and lead country. It will host the coalition’s permanent headquarters, as well as its command and control center, joint maritime operations rooms, and general secretariat. Participating countries are continuing to complete their respective domestic procedures for formally acceding to the coalition’s charter.
The founding members affirmed that the establishment of the coalition represents a strategic step toward strengthening maritime security in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, while promoting regional stability and prosperity and complementing international efforts to safeguard global peace and security.
