Joining Saudi-led alliance aimed at tackling Houthi challenges: Bangladesh

Bangladesh today (2 August) described its relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a "strategic" one and said its joining a Saudi-led alliance is aimed at tackling Houthi challenges.

"It is an alliance to tackle the activities of the Houthis. Whatever resources we have, we will extend," Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when asked about the background of Bangladesh joining the Saudi-led maritime defence alliance.

14 countries, including Bangladesh, have expressed their support for a multinational maritime defence alliance headed by Saudi Arabia and welcomed the consensus reached on its foundational arrangements.

Kobir said the relationship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will be a strategic one and will become even stronger.

"We have a very special relationship with Saudi Arabia. The relationship with Saudi Arabia will not simply be limited to pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah, nor is it just from a religious perspective," said the foreign affairs adviser, noting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

He said any cooperation in the security area, moral and ethical support, and tackling the Houthi challenge are all part of that special relationship.

The other signatories are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.

Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries announced the creation of the maritime military coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In a statement published on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance was established as a framework to strengthen collective maritime defence cooperation.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence on Thursday hosted a meeting of chiefs of staff and representatives of friendly countries, as well as the Delegation of the European Union to Saudi Arabia, to discuss the Kingdom's initiative to establish a multinational maritime defence alliance.

As an outcome of the meeting, 14 participating countries issued a joint declaration, while other countries participating in the meeting also expressed support for the initiative and are in the process of completing their internal national procedures and approvals to join the joint declaration.

The declaration will remain open to those countries, as well as other interested states, once they complete their national procedures.

The meeting concluded with participants reaffirming their shared determination to complete the foundational procedures for establishing the multinational maritime defence alliance.

They underscored that the alliance would strengthen the collective ability to counter and deter threats to maritime security, protect international sea lanes, safeguard freedom of navigation and global trade, and promote regional and international security and stability.

The initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen maritime security, protect international sea lanes, and counter threats targeting maritime navigation and global trade.

The meeting saw broad participation from chiefs of staff and their representatives from 43 countries, alongside the EU delegation, out of 51 countries and organisations invited. Participants attended either in person or via videoconference.

The extensive participation reflects growing international interest in strengthening maritime defence cooperation and underscores the importance of unifying efforts to address shared threats to the security of international sea lanes within the alliance's designated area of responsibility.

Participants discussed the growing threats to maritime security, including attacks targeting commercial vessels, energy tankers and maritime infrastructure. Discussions highlighted the risks these threats pose to maritime navigation safety, global supply chain stability and the international economy.

They stressed the importance of enhancing multilateral defence cooperation to counter and deter these threats and to safeguard the security of international sea lanes.

The meeting also reviewed the draft charter of the multinational maritime defence alliance, along with its reference documents, organisational structure, command-and-control arrangements, operating mechanisms and future work plan.

These arrangements are intended to establish an effective institutional framework that strengthens maritime defence cooperation among participating countries, and addresses shared maritime threats in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The meeting also discussed the foundational arrangements for the multinational maritime defence alliance initiative, foremost among them that Saudi Arabia would serve as the founding and leading state of the alliance and host its headquarters.

This reflects international confidence in the Kingdom's leadership role in promoting collective maritime security.

The participants agreed that military planners from countries wishing to join the alliance would continue their work during the next phase to complete the alliance's foundational procedures.

The work includes finalising the alliance's charter and reference documents, completing its organisational structure, command-and-control arrangements and operating mechanisms, and establishing the necessary technical groups and frameworks.

In parallel, countries wishing to join the alliance will complete their national procedures in preparation for signing the charter, launching the alliance and commencing its operations.

Saudi Arabia affirmed that the multinational maritime defence alliance is an open international initiative that welcomes all countries sharing its objectives and principles.

The Kingdom welcomed their accession to and participation in the alliance's efforts in accordance with their national procedures.

The Kingdom noted that the initiative aims to strengthen collective maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation and global trade, and embody the principle of shared international responsibility in addressing common threats.

It stressed that the initiative is based on the firm conviction that the security of international sea lanes is a collective responsibility requiring an effective and sustainable international partnership.