Saudi Arabia Establishes Maritime Defense Alliance Amid Red Sea Tensions

Saudi Arabia has established a maritime defense alliance to secure navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway for delivering oil to international markets. The move comes after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi oil tankers and imposed a maritime embargo on the country.

The alliance, which includes 14 countries, aims to enhance maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation, and protect shared interests in the region. It also invites other countries and organizations to join, with representatives from 43 nations attending an initial meeting in Riyadh.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a narrow waterway that has been a key route for Saudi oil exports after energy shipments were disrupted by the US-Iranian stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz. The new alliance seeks to address concerns over security and trade in the region, which have been exacerbated by recent tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.