World News | Saudi Arabia Announces Maritime Defence Alliance to Secure Vital Waterways
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Saudi Arabia and 13 other nations have formed a defensive maritime coalition to protect shipping across the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. The Riyadh-headquartered alliance aims to safeguard global energy routes amid Houthi blockades and Hormuz disruptions, which have pushed oil prices near USD 90.
Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], July 31 (ANI): Saudi Arabia and 13 other nations have agreed to set up a defensive naval alliance to protect commercial vessels navigating critical chokepoints, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, the Saudi Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday.
The development comes amid persistent maritime disruptions caused by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia carrying out a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. Combined with ongoing transit bottlenecks stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, these security threats have amplified global energy security fears, elevating crude oil prices towards USD 90 per barrel.
Also Read | Viral Videos Show Thousands of Migrants Flooding Into Spain's Ceuta From Morocco As Border Is Overrun.
The Saudi Ministry of Defence listed the coalition's founding member states as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.
The pact was formalised at a military conference held in Riyadh, which brought together defence chiefs and delegates from 43 nations, alongside representatives from the European Union. Participating officials evaluated the proposed foundational charter in hybrid sessions conducted both in person and via video conference, according to the ministry.
Also Read | Meta Executives to Visit India to Discuss Moderation Policies With MeitY.
Saudi Arabia is slated to function as the founding nation and establish the central headquarters on its territory. The proposed organisational framework integrates a joint command structure, an operational control hub, and a general secretariat dedicated to harmonising coalition efforts.
Furthermore, the Saudi Ministry of Defence stated that additional countries can join the security bloc after completing their respective domestic approval processes.
Categorising the partnership as a "purely defensive initiative", defence authorities stressed that the bloc is not targeting any particular state or entity, reassuring that all measures will strictly adhere to international legal protocols while respecting the sovereignty of every member nation. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)