The multinational Defensive Maritime Alliance on Thursday said mounting challenges to global maritime security have made stronger collective cooperation essential to protecting freedom of navigation, securing international trade routes, and safeguarding global energy supply lanes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The alliance’s founding members announced its establishment in a joint statement, describing it as a framework for maritime defense cooperation aimed at strengthening maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, securing international trade and energy supply routes, and safeguarding shared maritime interests in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, in accordance with international law, UN conventions, and internationally recognized norms. Participating countries agreed that Saudi Arabia will serve as the alliance’s founding state, leader, and permanent headquarters. They also approved the establishment in the Kingdom of the joint command, command-and-control centers, the Joint Maritime Operations Center, and the General Secretariat as the alliance’s principal executive bodies. The statement reaffirmed the founding members’ firm commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, international law, international treaties, and internationally recognized rules and norms. It also underscored their shared conviction that maritime security is a collective responsibility, and that cooperation and coordination are the cornerstone of addressing common and transnational maritime threats, thereby promoting global security, stability, and prosperity. The statement said participating countries will continue completing the domestic procedures required for formally acceding to the alliance’s charter, in line with each country’s constitutional and legal requirements. The members also agreed to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, information and intelligence sharing, operational planning, joint exercises, lessons learned, training, capacity building, and the conduct of joint maritime operations in accordance with the charter. The statement stressed that the alliance is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any state, alliance, or international organization. It said all alliance activities will be conducted in full compliance with international law, with respect for state sovereignty and the protection of freedom of navigation. Participation in its activities and operations, it added, will remain a sovereign decision for each member state in accordance with its national laws and procedures. The coalition also invited countries that share its objectives and principles to join its charter, saying broader membership would expand cooperation and strengthen collective maritime security in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The founding members said establishing the alliance marks a strategic step toward enhancing maritime security in those waterways, deepening defense cooperation among members, and supporting stability and prosperity while complementing international efforts to preserve international peace and security in accordance with international law. Earlier Thursday, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia voiced support for the alliance and welcomed the consensus reached on its founding arrangements. Other countries also expressed support for the initiative and are completing the domestic procedures and approvals required to join the statement.
