Saudi builds maritime coalition to protect Red Sea trading routes
The Houthis’ campaign against the kingdom has widened beyond tanker attacks in the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia finds itself increasingly entangled in the conflict it had previously sought to avoid. The Houthi insurgency against the kingdom has escalated to encompass more than just tanker attacks in the Red Sea. Recently, the group targeted oil facilities in the Eastern Province from Iraqi territory, collaborating with Iraqi armed groups under Iranian supervision, as reported by Reuters.
In response, Saudi and US jets struck Iraqi sites on Wednesday, causing Iraq's prime minister to cancel a scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. To bolster its defense, Riyadh has brought together military representatives from 43 nations to propose a maritime coalition safeguarding the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden.
Thirteen states have joined the initiative, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, and Pakistan, although the UAE and Oman have opted out. Although no concrete military commitments have been established, the situation is growing in urgency as the Red Sea becomes a critical lifeline for Saudi Arabia. Currently, only four commercial vessels are navigating Hormuz, with gas storage levels in Europe at 54%, marking the second-lowest summer level since 2011.
Energy firm Equinor questions whether the coalition will be able to meet its revised 80% winter target.
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