Saudi Arabia launches Red Sea maritime defence alliance with 13 member states

A Saudi‑led maritime alliance has expanded to include thirteen new member states, bringing the coalition’s total to 15. The alliance, formally known as the Gulf Cooperation Council Maritime Security Initiative, was launched earlier this year to coordinate naval patrols, intelligence sharing, and rapid response capabilities against piracy, smuggling and potential regional threats in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The new members span the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Saudi Arabia, the founding member, will provide the majority of the fleet and logistical support, while the others will contribute vessels, personnel and surveillance assets. Officials say the expanded partnership will enhance maritime situational awareness and strengthen collective deterrence in a region that has seen increasing maritime disputes and security challenges.

The expansion is seen as a strategic response to growing concerns over shipping lanes that are vital for global trade, especially given recent disruptions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. While the alliance has not yet announced a formal operational framework, it has pledged to conduct joint exercises and establish a shared command center to streamline coordination among its diverse naval forces.