Saudi Arabia, 13 Other Nations Agree to Maritime Defence Alliance Amid Red Sea Attacks

The recent announcement by Saudi Arabia of a multinational maritime defence alliance in the Red Sea has sparked concerns about the kingdom’s intentions and escalating tensions in the region. The move appears necessary to counter the threat posed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have attacked commercial shipping vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The alliance is not just a defensive measure; it is also a calculated move by Saudi Arabia to assert its dominance in the region, secure its energy exports, and counter Iran’s growing influence on the Arabian Peninsula. The kingdom has long been concerned about disruptions to shipping through the Red Sea, which carries a significant share of global trade, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime chokepoints, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Disruptions to shipping in this narrow waterway would have far-reaching consequences, forcing vessels to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of nautical miles to their journey, increasing transit times by 10-15 days, and driving up fuel, freight, and insurance costs.

The latest tensions in the region are a direct result of Yemen’s decade-long conflict, which has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Saudi Arabia formed a military coalition with Arab states in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, but the conflict soon evolved into a prolonged war that saw no comprehensive peace agreement reached.

The Houthis have retained control over much of northern Yemen, while sporadic clashes and cross-border attacks continued. The formation of the maritime defence alliance is also a response to the increasing use of drones and missiles by the Houthi rebels to target commercial vessels and warships.

The involvement of 14 countries in the alliance, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, and Djibouti, is significant. These nations have their own interests at stake in the region, and it remains to be seen how they will contribute to the alliance’s efforts. Oman and the United Arab Emirates were not among the signatories to the joint statement, which may indicate a level of unease or skepticism about the proposed coalition.

The stakes are high, with billions of dollars in trade at risk if shipping disruptions continue. The formation of the maritime defence alliance may provide some short-term relief, but it is unlikely to address the underlying issues driving the conflict. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether this alliance can live up to its promises and provide a stable security environment for commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

The question remains: will this alliance be enough to prevent further attacks, or will it merely serve as a stopgap solution to a far more complex problem?