Saudi Arabia hosts meeting to activate a naval alliance with participation of 39 countries
The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that the third planning meeting of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition (MMDC) was held at the Western Fleet Command in Jeddah, with representatives from 39 countries participating, marking a key step toward activating the coalition.
In a statement, the Saudi ministry said that 15 countries had signed the joint declaration, while 13 countries had completed their “national procedures,” signed the coalition charter, and officially announced their accession, representing the actual launch of the coalition toward an institutional and operational activation phase. Other countries continue to complete the necessary national procedures for joining the coalition.
The statement noted that this development coincides with rapid progress in completing the institutional building blocks of the coalition, including the appointment of a Saudi commander for the coalition, agreement that its deputy commander would be from Pakistan during the first term, designation of the headquarters for coalition command, and approval of its logo, alongside finalizing the necessary organizational, planning frameworks, and reference guides required to commence its operations.
It highlighted that the third planning meeting contributed to finalizing the operational arrangements for activating the coalition’s bodies and its multinational command, paving the way for the reception of officers and personnel participating from member states and their integration into the joint command and staff structure, the Joint Maritime Operations and Coordination Center, and the coalition intelligence center. This will accelerate the development of its operational capabilities and enhance its readiness to carry out its defensive missions within its area of responsibility.
The statement emphasized that as many countries complete their national procedures and begin activating the coalition’s bodies and command, the coalition enters a new phase of joint work, shifting efforts from building frameworks and structures to activating them and integrating the capabilities of member states, with a view to achieving operational readiness and executing the tasks assigned to the coalition. This reflects the resolve of participating countries to build a defensive maritime partnership capable of enhancing maritime security and stability, protecting freedom of navigation and shared interests, and contributing to regional and international security and stability, in accordance with the coalition charter, its reference documents, and international law, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense statement.
