Saudi forms 14-nation alliance to guard Red Sea shipping lane
Why it matters: The bloc aims to protect oil and trade flows through Bab al-Mandab after Houthi threats against Saudi tankers.
Saudi Arabia formed a 14-country maritime defense alliance on July 30 to protect navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden after Yemen’s Houthis threatened Saudi shipping. A joint statement issued by the Saudi defense ministry said the coalition would bolster maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation and protect energy supply lines and trade routes. Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Yemen backed the effort. Riyadh said 43 countries and an EU delegation attended talks on the alliance, with other governments still considering support.