JAKARTA – Saudi Arabia has proposed the formation of an international maritime coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

As reported by Reuters, two sources familiar with the discussions said Riyadh was still finalising the coalition's composition with dozens of countries. The final list of members has yet to be determined.

Saudi Arabia's International Communication Centre did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plan.

The push to establish the coalition followed the Houthis' announcement on 20 July of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The group said the move was in response to what it described as a Saudi siege of Yemen, an allegation denied by Riyadh.

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Since announcing the blockade, the Houthis have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on vessels affiliated with Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.

In response, Riyadh launched air strikes against Houthi military facilities at the Port of Hodeidah in Yemen, which it said were being used to threaten commercial shipping.

The escalation has opened a new front in the broader conflict involving Iran and the United States and its allies.

Attacks on energy tankers and merchant vessels have now spread beyond the Gulf region, contributing to higher global oil prices.

Saudi Arabia formally unveils maritime coalition plan

A day after reports of the proposed coalition emerged, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence officially announced plans to establish a multinational maritime defence coalition to protect international shipping lanes and energy supply chains in the Red Sea.

At the international meeting, representatives from 43 countries and the European Union discussed the coalition's framework, with Saudi Arabia serving as the founding member, leader and host of its headquarters.

The Saudi Defence Ministry said the coalition would strengthen maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy distribution, and protect shared interests in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

Fourteen countries expressed support for the initiative in a joint statement, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti. However, among the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Oman and the United Arab Emirates were not listed as supporters.

The announcement underscores Saudi Arabia's efforts to strengthen international cooperation in safeguarding one of the world's busiest shipping routes, which continues to face threats from Houthi attacks.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints for global trade and energy shipments.

Previously, the European Union launched a naval mission in the Red Sea in 2024 to restore and protect freedom of navigation after the Houthis disrupted maritime traffic through attacks on vessels, which the group claimed were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza. (DH/ZH)

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