Saudi Arabia hosted an international meeting to discuss forming a maritime defence alliance, the Saudi defence ministry said. Delegations from 43 countries and an EU delegation attended; participants discussed Saudi Arabia acting as founding leader and host of the proposed alliance’s headquarters. The grouping would bolster defence cooperation across the Bab al‑Mandeb, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect navigation and global trade. Fourteen countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan an

Saudi Arabia hosted an international meeting to discuss forming a maritime defence alliance, the Saudi defence ministry said. Delegations from 43 countries and an EU delegation attended; participants discussed Saudi Arabia acting as founding leader and host of the proposed alliance’s headquarters. The grouping would bolster defence cooperation across the Bab al‑Mandeb, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect navigation and global trade. Fourteen countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti, issued a joint statement backing the proposal. The defence ministry said any country may apply to join.