Why Saudi Arabia is leading a new Red Sea naval coalition?

Saudi Arabia has announced a new international naval coalition to help protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea after attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement intensified and disrupted one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.

The alliance comes as shipping through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has declined sharply following a Houthi maritime blockade announced in July, raising concerns over global energy supplies and international trade, says Al Jazeera.

Here is what is known about the coalition and why it matters.

What is the new naval coalition?

Saudi Arabia has formed a multinational naval alliance headquartered in Riyadh to protect commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea and nearby waterways.

As of late July 2026, 13 countries have agreed to participate: Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan and the Comoros.

The coalition is intended to coordinate maritime security operations in response to attacks on commercial shipping attributed to the Houthis.

The United Arab Emirates and Oman have not joined the alliance, although both share broader regional security interests.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence said additional countries could still join the initiative, noting that "The door remains open for other countries to accede to the coalition's charter after completing their national procedures."

The United States has not officially announced whether it will participate, though it is widely expected to support the initiative. A European Union delegation attended the coalition's founding meeting, although the EU already operates its own Red Sea naval mission, Aspides.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman recently met US officials and said the kingdom opposed a broader regional conflict while remaining prepared to respond to security threats. According to Saudi accounts of the meeting, he said Saudi Arabia was ready to "defend itself" and "does not need the US to get involved" in addressing the Houthi threat.

Why was the coalition created?

The immediate trigger was a maritime blockade announced by the Houthis on 20 July 2026.

The blockade followed heightened regional tensions that affected shipping routes across the Middle East.

After the Strait of Hormuz became unavailable for Saudi oil exports, the kingdom redirected shipments through its Red Sea port of Yanbu. The Houthis subsequently targeted vessels on that route, including the tanker NCC Ghazal.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group "targeted the Saudi oil tanker, NCC Ghazal, with ballistic missiles, forcing it to change course."

Reports have also indicated the Houthis plan to establish an organisation to collect fees from ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani described the reported move as "a dangerous escalation aimed at transforming one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors into a permanent source of funding for the militia's military and terrorist activities."

Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen's foreign minister-designate, said: "The Houthis want to copy the Iranian model and this will shut down two main straits, the gateways into the Gulf and Red Sea."

Under international maritime law, ships have the right of transit passage through natural straits used for international navigation, and states bordering those waterways cannot impose transit tolls on passing vessels.

Why is the Red Sea important?

The Red Sea is one of the world's most important maritime trade corridors, linking Europe with Asia through the Suez Canal.

Around 30% of global seaborne trade passes through the route, making disruptions significant for international supply chains.

A key chokepoint is the Bab al-Mandeb Strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. At its narrowest point, the waterway is about 18 miles (29 km) wide and serves as a critical passage for oil shipments travelling between the Gulf, Europe and global markets.

More than 4 billion barrels of oil transited the strait during 2024.

Recent attacks have sharply reduced commercial traffic, with reports indicating that vessel movements fell to record lows over one weekend. The disruption has also contributed to higher energy prices, with Brent crude rising above $100 a barrel.

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthis are an armed movement that controls Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and large parts of northern Yemen after seising the city in 2014.

The group is backed by Iran, although both Tehran and the Houthis have said the movement acts independently.

In announcing the blockade, the Houthis said it was retaliation for years of Saudi military operations and accused Riyadh of imposing "an unjust and oppressive siege" for more than a decade while "plundering our resources and imposing a comprehensive blockade on our ports and airports by land, sea and air."

The movement previously targeted vessels it said were linked to Israel during the war in Gaza. It has since expanded its operations to include Saudi-flagged ships and infrastructure.

Iran has denied directing attacks by the Houthis. Responding to allegations of Iranian involvement in drone strikes, an unnamed Iranian defence official told state broadcaster IRIB that blaming Tehran was a "major miscalculation."

What could happen next?

The Saudi-led coalition is expected to focus on escorting commercial shipping, coordinating naval patrols and deterring attacks along key trade routes.

Its effectiveness could depend on whether additional countries, including the United States and Gulf states that have not yet joined, decide to participate.

The coalition also operates alongside existing international maritime security missions in the region, raising questions about how different naval forces will coordinate their operations as tensions continue in the Red Sea.