Saudi Arabia Leads 14-Nation Maritime Defense Alliance to Protect Global Shipping Routes
The Saudi defense ministry announced that 14 countries have backed a kingdom-led proposal to establish a "Maritime Defense Alliance" to protect international shipping routes and global trade. The coalition, which includes nations such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, aims to enhance maritime security and preserve the freedom of navigation across critical chokepoints like the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. This initiative comes as regional tensions escalate due to the US-Iran conflict. Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US "threats" and "interference" cease. Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have denied plans to charge ships for passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, clarifying that their "safe transit service" is voluntary and free of charge. The alliance serves as a strategic response to the growing risks posed by maritime infrastructure and global supply chains, with Saudi Arabia acting as the founding and leading country of the initiative.