ISTANBUL, Turkiye: Fifteen countries have signed a statement to establish a multinational maritime defence coalition, the Saudi Defence Ministry announced Thursday (Aug. 13), Anadolu Ajansi reported.
“The number of countries that signed the joint statement reached 15 countries, while 13 countries completed their national procedures, signed the coalition charter, and officially announced their accession,” it said in a statement on the X platform.
The statement came after the third planners’ meeting of the coalition, held Thursday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“This represents the actual launch of the coalition towards the stage of institutional and operational activation, while the rest of the countries continue to complete the necessary national procedures to join the coalition,” it added.
While a Saudi commander will lead the coalition, the deputy commander of the coalition will be from Pakistan, the ministry highlighted.
Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries announced the creation of the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition on July 30, aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation, international trade and energy supply routes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
On August 6, Saudi Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri was appointed the coalition commander. – BERNAMA-ANADOLU
