Overview
- The coalition held a founding meeting in Riyadh on July 30 that 14 countries signed and that Saudi statements say drew representatives from 43 nations.
- Saudi authorities appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al‑Shehri as commander on Thursday to lead the alliance’s joint naval command and oversee planning and operations.
- Officials describe the group as a defensive, open international coalition that continues to accept applications and will finalise its charter and accession procedures at the August 12–13 meeting.
- The initiative is a response to persistent maritime threats, including Houthi attacks on shipping since 2023 and recent Houthi claims of missile strikes and a blockade of Saudi ports that have not been independently confirmed.
- The coalition still faces practical hurdles because it must secure national approvals and coordinate with existing EU and US naval missions before joint operations begin, and its aim is to secure the Bab al‑Mandeb chokepoint that links the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal and global trade routes.