Led by Saudi Arabia, 14 countries have supported plans to establish a Maritime Defense Alliance to collectively protect international shipping routes and global trade from any attacks.
On Thursday, 30 Jul 2026 GMT+7, the Saudi Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying that 14 countries have endorsed Saudi Arabia's proposal to form a multilateral "Maritime Defense Alliance" aimed at safeguarding international shipping lanes and global trade.
The 14 countries are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.
The Ministry of Defense noted that military leaders and representatives from 43 countries attended meetings on this initiative, both in person and via video link, with delegates from the European Union also present.
Participants discussed attacks on commercial ships, energy transport vessels, and various maritime infrastructure, as well as risks to navigation, global supply chains, and the international economy.
"The meeting agreed to designate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the founding country and leader of the alliance, as well as the location of its main headquarters," the statement said.
The report added that the alliance proposal is an "open international preventive initiative" for countries sharing common goals and principles, focusing on enhancing maritime security and preserving "freedom of navigation and global trade."
Furthermore, the Ministry said the 14 countries issued a joint statement supporting the project and welcomed the consensus reached on establishing the organization. Other participating countries also expressed support and are in the process of internal approvals to join.
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Source:cnn