Fourteen countries issued a joint statement in Riyadh on July 30, 2026, announcing the establishment of the Multinational Defensive Maritime Coalition.
The coalition aims to strengthen maritime security, protect freedom of navigation, and secure international trade and energy supply routes through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
The 14 founding countries are:
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- Pakistan
- Turkey
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Yemen
- Bangladesh
- Nigeria
- Sudan
- Djibouti
- Somalia
Saudi Arabia will serve as the founding and leading country of the coalition and will host its permanent headquarters, along with the Joint Command, Command and Control Center, Joint Maritime Operations Center, and General Secretariat.
The founding nations reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and recognized maritime norms. They described maritime security as a shared responsibility and said cooperation among nations is essential to confronting common and cross-border threats.
Key points from the joint statement include:
- The coalition is exclusively defensive in nature and is not directed against any country, alliance, or international organization.
- Participation in its activities remains a sovereign decision for each member state.
- Member countries will enhance cooperation on intelligence sharing, operational planning, joint exercises, training, capacity building, and joint maritime operations.
- The door remains open for other countries that share the coalition’s objectives to join once they complete their domestic procedures.
The statement emphasized that the new framework represents a strategic step to bolster regional maritime security, deepen defense cooperation among members, and support broader international efforts to maintain peace and security.
Representatives from 43 countries and the European Union attended the broader meeting in Riyadh to discuss the initiative. The United States attended the meeting and is expected to provide support through its existing military partnerships with most of the participating countries. The door remains open for additional nations to join.
