The decision was agreed upon at a special meeting held in Riyadh on Thursday. In addition to Saudi Arabia, the other 13 participating nations are Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.
The alliance is tasked with addressing the growing challenges to global maritime security and will operate as a framework for international maritime defense cooperation.
Their objective is to strengthen security, protect freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of international trade and energy supply routes, and safeguard common maritime interests in the Bab el-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden in accordance with the provisions of international law, United Nations Conventions, and international custom.
The move came amid deteriorating security situation in vital global shipping lanes. The United States-Iran conflict has become focused on the Strait of Hormuz. The Bab el-Mandeb-Red Sea-Gulf of Aden route has come under repeated attack from Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen.
