Saudi Arabia hosts multinational naval coalition meeting to protect Red Sea shipping

Saudi Arabia convened a multinational naval coalition meeting on Monday in Riyadh to coordinate efforts aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Delegates from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and several Gulf Cooperation Council states attended, along with representatives of the United Nations‑backed Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa. The gathering was prompted by a sharp increase in attacks on merchant vessels by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which have threatened the flow of oil and other goods through one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.

Participants reviewed recent incident reports, shared intelligence on hostile maritime activity, and agreed to expand joint patrols and surveillance operations in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The coalition also committed to enhancing communication channels with commercial shipping firms and to establishing a rapid‑response framework for escorting vulnerable vessels. Saudi officials said the meeting underscored the region’s collective resolve to maintain the free flow of trade and to deter further disruptions, signaling continued multinational cooperation in addressing maritime security challenges.