Saudi Arabia seeks to form an international alliance to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks.
Saudi Arabia has announced a mission to form an international alliance to guard the Red Sea from attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The coalition, headquartered in Riyadh, aims to stabilize a critical maritime corridor that carries 30 percent of global traffic. The kingdom has invited dozens of countries, including the user-states of Egypt, Djibouti, and Sudan, which have already agreed to join. While the United States has not yet officially confirmed its participation, it is expected to join the alliance. Prince Khalid bin Salman met with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss the situation. During the meeting, Prince Salman conveyed that the kingdom is ready to defend itself and can manage the Houthi situation independently. The alliance comes as the Houthis impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and consider imposing tolls on shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These disruptions have impacted global energy prices, with Brent crude rising to $88.09 per barrel following the ongoing US-Israel conflict and the user-states' maritime challenges.