Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a Maritime Defense Alliance, bringing together Nigeria and 13 other countries in a coordinated effort to strengthen maritime security and protect global shipping routes amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The 14-member coalition comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense, the initiative received broad international support during a high-level summit attended by military chiefs and senior representatives from 43 countries, who participated both physically and virtually, alongside a delegation from the European Union.
The discussions focused on the growing threat of attacks targeting commercial vessels, oil and gas tankers, and critical port infrastructure. Participants warned that such incidents pose a serious risk to global navigation, international supply chains, energy security, and the world economy.
Under the alliance’s agreed framework, Saudi Arabia will serve as the founding and leading nation and will host the coalition’s permanent headquarters.
The ministry described the alliance as an open international defensive initiative, welcoming countries that share its objectives and principles. Its mission is to strengthen maritime defense cooperation, enhance regional and international security, and safeguard the freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global trade.
The 14 founding members formally endorsed the alliance through a joint declaration, expressing support for its organizational framework. Saudi authorities said several other participating countries have also indicated strong backing and are advancing the proposal through their respective domestic approval processes, paving the way for broader international participation.
