RIYADH/MOGADISHU — Somalia has joined Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan and a group of regional and international partners in endorsing a new Saudi-led maritime security initiative aimed at protecting commercial shipping and strategic sea lanes across the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
The initiative was announced by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense following a high-level meeting in Riyadh attended by military representatives from 43 countries and a delegation from the European Union. Saudi officials said the framework seeks to strengthen maritime security cooperation, safeguard freedom of navigation, and enhance coordination against threats to international shipping.
The announcement comes amid heightened security concerns in the Red Sea, where attacks on commercial vessels have disrupted one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes and raised fears over the security of global energy supplies and international commerce.
According to Saudi Arabia, the proposed coalition will promote joint planning, military exercises, intelligence sharing, maritime surveillance, and defensive operations to improve the security of critical shipping corridors. Riyadh emphasized that participation in any operational activities would remain the sovereign decision of each member state.
Countries supporting the initiative include Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, and Djibouti, among others.
The coalition is expected to work alongside existing international maritime security efforts rather than replace them, although officials have yet to announce details regarding its command structure, operational mandate, funding, or timeline for implementation.
Somalia’s participation reflects its continued commitment to regional security cooperation and the protection of maritime routes that are vital to the country’s economy and national security. Situated along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, Somalia occupies a strategically important position overlooking one of the world’s most significant shipping corridors.
Notably, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Eritrea were not listed among the countries endorsing the initiative. None of the three countries has publicly commented on their absence from the framework.
Security analysts say the initiative represents Saudi Arabia’s latest effort to strengthen regional defense cooperation as geopolitical tensions and maritime security challenges continue to affect the Red Sea, a corridor through which a significant share of global trade and energy shipments passes each year.
