New Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance Announced in Riyadh
The founding member states of a new Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance have announced the establishment of the coalition, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collective maritime security and protecting key international shipping routes.
Meeting in Riyadh on July 30, the participating governments said the alliance reflects their adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, international treaties, and globally recognized rules and norms.
The member states noted that growing challenges to global maritime security require enhanced international cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation, protect global trade routes, and secure energy supply lines through the Bab Al Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
The joint statement emphasized that maritime security is a shared international responsibility and that closer coordination among nations is essential to addressing cross-border maritime threats while promoting global security, stability and prosperity.
Alliance to strengthen regional maritime cooperation
The founding members agreed to establish the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance as a framework for defense cooperation aimed at:
* Enhancing maritime security and protecting freedom of navigation.
* Securing international trade routes and global energy supply lines.
* Safeguarding maritime interests in the Bab Al Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
* Operating in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and internationally recognized conventions.
The participating countries also pledged to complete their respective domestic legal and constitutional procedures required to formally accede to the alliance’s charter.
Intelligence sharing and joint operations
Under the agreement, member states will expand cooperation in maritime security through intelligence and information sharing, operational planning, joint military exercises, training, capacity building and the exchange of best practices.
The alliance also provides for the conduct of joint maritime operations in accordance with its charter, while reaffirming that participation in alliance activities remains a sovereign decision for each member state, based on its own national laws and procedures.
Defensive alliance committed to international law
The joint statement stressed that the alliance is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any country or organization.
It reaffirmed that all alliance activities will be carried out in full compliance with international law, respect for state sovereignty and the protection of freedom of navigation.
The founding members also invited other countries that share the alliance’s objectives to join the coalition after completing the procedures required under its charter.
Saudi Arabia to host headquarters
Saudi Arabia was designated as the founding and leading state of the alliance and will host its permanent headquarters.
The Kingdom will also establish the alliance’s Joint Operations Center and General Secretariat, which will serve as its principal executive bodies.
The founding states said the creation of the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance represents a strategic step toward strengthening maritime security in the Bab Al Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while deepening defense cooperation among member states and supporting international efforts to preserve peace and security in accordance with international law.
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