Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense hosted a high-level meeting in Riyadh on Thursday, July 30, bringing together chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries, alongside the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom, to discuss the establishment of a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance.

The initiative is intended to protect international navigation and commercial shipping across the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden, amid mounting attacks on merchant vessels, energy carriers and maritime infrastructure.

The meeting drew participation from 43 of the 51 countries and organizations invited, either in person or via video conference, reflecting growing international concern over the impact of maritime insecurity on global trade, energy flows and supply chains.

Participants reviewed the alliance’s draft charter, organizational structure, command-and-control arrangements, reference documents and future operational mechanisms. The alliance’s command headquarters is planned to be based in Riyadh.

Military planners from interested states will continue preparing the final charter, operational concept, information-sharing mechanisms and command structure before the agreement is signed and the alliance formally begins its missions.

Fourteen countries issued a joint statement supporting the initiative: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia. Other participating states also expressed support while completing their domestic procedures.

Background

The Riyadh meeting comes amid a renewed escalation of threats to international shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis have expanded their maritime campaign from attacks on vessels linked to Israel and the United States to threats against Saudi-linked shipping, while presenting their actions as a wider blockade policy.

Recent attacks and warnings have raised concerns that the group is seeking to turn its position near Bab al-Mandab into a tool for controlling shipping routes, pressuring commercial operators and disrupting global trade.

By sponsoring the new alliance, Riyadh is seeking to shift the response from a bilateral or Yemen-focused confrontation toward a broader international defense framework. The initiative reflects the view that threats to Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea affect not only regional states, but also global energy security, supply chains and trade between Asia, Europe and Africa.