Saudi Arabia: The multinational defensive naval coalition has begun its actual operations from Riyadh

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that the multinational defensive naval coalition has commenced its operational phase from its headquarters in Riyadh. This was marked by the assumption of duties by Rear Admiral Rashed Sheikh of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as Deputy Commander of the Coalition, alongside liaison officers from several member states.

In a statement posted on its official account on the “X” platform yesterday, the Ministry stated, “Member states are also working to complete the procedures for joining the coalition, while liaison officers are progressively assuming their duties in accordance with the quotas allocated to each country.”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established the multinational defensive naval coalition and serves as its leader and permanent headquarters.

The establishment of the coalition stems from the founding states’ recognition of the growing challenges facing global maritime security and the resulting necessity to strengthen collective defensive naval cooperation to protect freedom of navigation and international trade routes, and to secure global energy supply lines in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

The multinational defensive naval coalition constitutes a framework for defensive naval cooperation. It aims to enhance maritime security, protect freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supply lines, and safeguard shared maritime interests in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, in accordance with the provisions of international law, United Nations conventions, and international norms.