Saudi Arabia is spearheading an international coalition to safeguard key shipping routes that transport its oil exports from repeated attacks by Yemeni Houthi militias. On Thursday, July 31st, 2026, the Saudi Ministry of Defense met with nearly 50 countries in Riyadh to establish a multinational maritime defense coalition, according to a statement from the Saudi Arabian embassy in the United States.

The coalition aims to secure shipping lanes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden—critical passages for global energy supplies. The Saudi Defense Ministry confirmed that 14 countries, including Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria, and several other Arab and African nations, have affirmed their support for the coalition.

Pakistan has condemned the threatened Houthi naval blockade in the Red Sea, stating that such actions violate established principles of international law. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels recently threatened to enforce a naval blockade against Saudi vessels transiting the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This threat followed a strike on Sanaa International Airport in northern Yemen, for which the Saudi-backed Yemeni government claimed responsibility.

The strategic importance of the Red Sea has grown since the U.S.-Iran conflict escalated in February 2026, leading to partial and full closures of the Strait of Hormuz, a route that transports a fifth of the world’s oil. Shipping activity in the Red Sea has slowed following the Houthi attacks, with only 11 cargo vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait recently—the lowest number in months, according to analytics platform Kpler.

The coalition’s formation comes amid ongoing regional tensions, including previous Houthi attacks on Israel and international shipping lines aimed at deterring Israeli strikes against Hamas.

Sources