Saudi Arabia Forms Red Sea Shipping Protection Alliance

Saudi Arabia has formed a military alliance to protect shipping in the Red Sea and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, following attacks on its ships by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. The alliance includes 14 countries, including Gulf states such as Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, as well as Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan.

The Saudi Defence Ministry stated that 'maritime security is a shared responsibility' and will be achieved through joint military operations, planning, and exercises, with the exchange of intelligence. The alliance is described as 'purely defensive' and does not aim to attack any state or international organization.

Despite sharing similar security objectives in the Iran conflict, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are not participating in the alliance. Saudi Arabia currently exports some of its oil via a pipeline to the Red Sea due to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but renewed attacks by the Houthi rebels make this route less secure.