Ministry of Defense Hosts Meeting with 43 Countries to Discuss Establishing a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance

On Thursday, 16th Safar 1448 AH, corresponding to July 30, 2026, the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted a high-level meeting of chiefs of staff and representatives from friendly and allied countries, along with the European Union delegation to the Kingdom, to discuss the initiative to establish a multinational maritime defense alliance. This initiative is part of efforts to enhance maritime security, protect international sea lanes, and counter threats targeting global navigation and trade.

The meeting saw broad participation from chiefs of staff and their representatives from 43 countries, alongside the European Union delegation, out of 51 countries and organizations invited to participate, either in person or via virtual communication. This reflects the growing international interest in enhancing maritime defense cooperation.

Participants discussed the escalating threats targeting maritime security, including attacks on commercial ships, energy tankers, and maritime infrastructure, which pose risks to the safety of navigation, the stability of global supply chains, and the international economy. They emphasized the need to enhance multilateral defense cooperation to confront and deter these threats.

The meeting also addressed the draft charter of the alliance, its reference documents, organizational structure, command and control arrangements, and operational mechanisms, ensuring the establishment of an effective institutional framework to counter shared maritime threats in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

The foundational arrangements discussed included Saudi Arabia being the host and leader of the alliance and hosting its headquarters, reflecting international confidence in its leadership role in enhancing collective maritime security.

Participants agreed to continue the work of military planners from countries wishing to join during the next phase, to complete the final draft of the charter, reference documents, organizational structure, and necessary legal and technical frameworks, in preparation for signing the charter and launching the alliance to commence its duties.

Among the key outcomes of the meeting, 14 countries issued a joint statement confirming their support for the alliance project and agreed on the foundational arrangement documents. These countries are: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and the Comoros. Other participating countries also confirmed their support for the initiative and are in the process of completing their national procedures to join the statement, which remains open for accession.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared determination to move forward with establishing the multinational maritime defense alliance, as an open international defense initiative welcoming the participation of all countries aligned with its goals and principles, based on the firm belief that the security of international sea lanes is a collective responsibility requiring effective and sustainable international partnership.