Fourteen states issue joint statement backing Saudi-led maritime defence coalition
Fourteen states, including Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti, have issued a joint statement supporting the proposed multinational maritime defence coalition, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry says.
The statement — also signed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Somalia — welcomed progress on the coalition’s founding arrangements. Other participating states expressed support but are still completing domestic procedures to formally join, with the door left open for further signatories.
The announcement followed a Defence Ministry-hosted meeting of military chiefs of staff and representatives from allied nations, along with the EU delegation to the kingdom, to advance Riyadh’s initiative. The meeting drew chiefs of staff or representatives from 43 countries, plus the EU delegation, out of 51 invited — attending either in person or virtually.
The push comes amid an escalating Red Sea shipping crisis: the Houthis declared a “maritime blockade” on Saudi Arabia on July 20 and have since struck Saudi tankers, forcing Riyadh to reroute oil exports through Red Sea ports after the earlier closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
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