Saudi Arabia: Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance begins actual operations from Riyadh

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that the multinational maritime defense coalition has begun its operational phase from its command headquarters in Riyadh, with Rear Admiral Rashid Sheikh of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan assuming his duties as deputy commander of the coalition, alongside liaison officers from several member states.

In a statement posted on its official X account yesterday, the ministry said, “Member states are also completing their accession procedures to the coalition, while liaison officers are being deployed sequentially according to the quotas allocated to each country.”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established the multinational maritime defense coalition and serves as its leading member, hosting its permanent headquarters. The coalition’s creation stemmed from the founding states’ recognition of the growing challenges facing global maritime security, which necessitate enhanced collective maritime defense cooperation to safeguard freedom of navigation and international trade routes, and to secure global energy supply routes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

The multinational maritime defense coalition serves as a framework for maritime defense cooperation, aiming to enhance maritime security, protect freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supply lines, and safeguard shared maritime interests in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, in accordance with international law, United Nations conventions, and established international norms.