Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense hosted a high-level meeting on the establishment of a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, during which 14 countries, including Pakistan, issued a joint statement supporting the initiative.
The meeting was held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, and brought together chiefs of staff or their representatives from 43 countries, along with the European Union Delegation. A total of 51 countries and organizations had been invited, with participants attending either in person or via videoconference.
Growing Threats to Maritime Security Discussed
Participants reviewed the increasing threats facing international waterways, commercial shipping, energy tankers, and maritime infrastructure. They stressed that protecting maritime routes, ensuring the stability of global supply chains, and safeguarding the international economy require strong multilateral cooperation.
The meeting also examined the proposed charter of the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, its organizational structure, command-and-control arrangements, operational mechanisms, and future roadmap. The aim is to strengthen coordinated maritime defense efforts in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi Arabia Named Founding and Host Nation
Attendees agreed that Saudi Arabia would serve as the founding, leading, and host nation of the alliance, with its headquarters to be established in the Kingdom. Participants described the decision as a reflection of the international community’s confidence in Saudi Arabia’s leadership in promoting maritime security.
It was also agreed that military planners from countries wishing to join the alliance would continue working on the next phase of its establishment, including finalizing the alliance’s charter, organizational structure, command-and-control system, technical teams, and operational framework.
Pakistan Among 14 Countries Issuing Joint Statement
At the conclusion of the meeting, 14 countries, including Pakistan, issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance and welcoming the consensus reached on its founding arrangements.
The signatories to the joint statement are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense, other participating countries also expressed support for the initiative and are completing their respective national legal and administrative procedures before joining the alliance. The joint statement will remain open for additional countries to sign once those procedures are completed.
Commitment to Strengthening International Cooperation
Saudi Arabia emphasized that the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance is an open international defense initiative, welcoming all countries that share its objectives and principles.
The meeting concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to completing the alliance’s foundational procedures as soon as possible to strengthen the protection of international waterways, safeguard freedom of navigation and global trade, and promote regional and international peace and stability.
