Saudi Arabia and 13 Other Nations Formally Launch Red Sea Maritime Coalition

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said on Thursday, August 13, 2026 (22 Mordad 1405), following the coalition's third meeting in Jeddah, that of the 15 countries that signed the joint declaration to form the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, 13 including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye and Yemen have completed their national procedures and formally joined. According to Al Jazeera, the ministry called it the coalition's "actual launch" toward institutional and operational activation, and said applications from other countries continue to be received.

The coalition, first announced on Thursday, July 30, 2026 (8 Mordad), aims to protect freedom of navigation through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden through intelligence sharing, joint exercises and naval operations. Al Jazeera noted the move comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed amid the US and Israeli war on Iran, and as Houthi attacks on Saudi linked vessels in the Red Sea have intensified.