This initiative follows the announcement last week by Yemeni Houthi rebels, allies of Iran, of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, followed by the demand of several attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday the creation of a maritime coalition of about fifteen states to secure navigation in the Red Sea, in a context of tension in the strategic Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.
This initiative follows the announcement last week by Yemeni Houthi rebels, allies of Iran, of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, followed by the demand of several attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
However, Saudi Arabia is counting on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located at the southern end of the Red Sea, to continue its oil exports, while Iran locks the strategic passage of Hormuz, on the other side of the peninsula.
This coalition, which brings together 14 countries, aims to « strengthen maritime safety, protect freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supply routes, as well as protect common maritime interests in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, » reads a joint statement published by the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
Which countries are concerned?
Riyadh emphasizes that the alliance has a « purely defensive character » and that it is not « directed against any State ».
Saudi Arabia, the « founding country », will host the headquarters of the alliance, which also brings together Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, the (internationally recognized government of) Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.
The Yemeni government accused the Houthis on Wednesday of wanting to imitate their Iranian ally by imposing rights of way to ships transiting through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which would risk raising oil prices.
After four years of truce between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which had militarily supported the Yemeni government against the rebels since 2015, hostilities resumed on July 13 between the two camps.
