Pakistan joins maritime defence coalition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has joined a bloc of 13 other countries to formally support a Saudi-led initiative to establish a multinational maritime defence alliance aimed at protecting the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden from growing security threats. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said the Kingdom would serve as the founding and leading state of the proposed alliance and host its headquarters, marking a significant step towards creating a new collective security mechanism for some of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes. The initiative was discussed at a high-level meeting hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Defense on Thursday, attended by chiefs of staff and military representatives from 43 countries, along with the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom. A total of 51 countries and organisations had been invited. READ MORE: Saudi Arabia unveils plans for multinational maritime defence coalition Following the meeting, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia issued a joint statement supporting the proposed alliance and endorsing the agreed foundational arrangements. The alliance is intended to counter attacks on commercial ships, oil tankers and maritime infrastructure, which threaten freedom of navigation, global supply chains, energy security and international trade. Participants reviewed the draft charter, organisational structure, command-and-control arrangements and operational mechanisms of the coalition. Military planners from countries seeking membership will now work to finalise the charter and technical framework before the alliance is formally launched. Saudi Arabia described the coalition as an open international defence initiative and invited other countries sharing its objectives to join after completing their respective national procedures. The development comes amid growing international concern over threats to shipping in the Red Sea and adjoining waterways, through which a significant share of global energy supplies and commercial trade passes. The meeting concluded with a commitment to accelerate the alliance’s establishment and develop a coordinated mechanism capable of deterring maritime threats and safeguarding international navigation and trade. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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