Saudi leads maritime defense alliance to protect Red Sea trade

The Houthi attacks are leading countries to coalesce around Saudi to defend Bab Al Mandab. The Defense Ministry announced a new multinational maritime defense alliance after meeting with the representatives of 43 countries alongside an EU delegation in Riyadh, according to press releases (here and here). The coalition aims to protect maritime security and freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supplies, and protect maritime interests in Bab Al Mandab, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

Who are the members? The current signatories include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia, SPA reported. Other participating nations are also completing their internal procedures and approvals to join the declaration, with the alliance open to whoever is interested.

How will it work? The members will enforce maritime security through information and intelligence sharing, operational planning, joint exercises, joint patrols, training and capacity building, and joint maritime operations. However, no military commitments have been made by any member (yet).

On Saudi soil: The Kingdom will host its headquarters, with a leadership and command center, a joint maritime operations center, and a general secretariat based in Saudi.

We knew this was coming: Riyadh has been working with dozens of countries on establishing an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from attacks by the Houthis. Yemen’s Houthis previously said last week that they targeted a Saudi oil tanker, claiming it crossed the group’s naval blockade despite prior warnings.

Riyadh might take matters into their own hands soon. Unnamed Yemeni sources told the Guardian preparations are underway for a “major [Saudi] military offensive” against the Houthis, which might include a land invasion of Central Yemen.

Why it matters: Saudi Arabia seems intent on owning Red Sea security rather than relying entirely on Western naval task forces, especially with the rising Houthi threats. The Kingdom aims to secure its alternative lung to Hormuz, which absorbed the majority of both oil and non-oil exports and trade since the strait’s closure, as well as establish a regional consensus on keeping key sea lanes open.