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In Riyadh, 43 countries discussed the creation of maritime defense coalition

31 July 2026 01:54 (UTC +04:00)

Representatives from 43 countries participated in a meeting of chiefs of general staff and military representatives held in Riyadh, dedicated to Saudi Arabia's initiative to create a multinational maritime defense coalition to protect international shipping, according to the Kingdom's Ministry of Defense, APA reports.

According to the statement, the meeting was attended by chiefs of staff and their representatives from 43 countries, as well as a delegation from the European Union. Invitations were extended to representatives of 51 states and international organizations. Some participants joined the meeting in person, while others did so via videoconference. According to the department, the participants discussed "growing threats to maritime security, including attacks on merchant vessels, energy tankers, and maritime infrastructure," which pose risks to shipping safety, the resilience of global supply chains, and the global economy. The meeting also reviewed the draft charter of the future coalition, its organizational structure, command and control system, operational mechanisms, and further stages of its development. It is envisaged that the coalition will operate in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. Participants also discussed the initiative's founding provisions, which stipulate that Saudi Arabia will become a founding member and leader of the coalition, as well as host its headquarters.

Following the meeting, military representatives agreed to continue work on establishing the coalition, including finalizing its charter, organizational structure, and operating mechanisms, with a view to signing the founding document and officially launching the alliance. A joint statement in support of the project was signed by 14 countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia. The ministry emphasized that a number of other countries also "expressed support for the initiative and are continuing the internal procedures necessary to join the joint statement."