The Maldives has joined a maritime military alliance established by Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries to safeguard freedom of navigation along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Maldives’ membership was approved by Parliament last month. Chief of Defence Force General Ibrahim Hilmy formally completed the country’s accession by signing the alliance’s charter at a ceremony held on Wednesday.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance provides a framework for member states to strengthen collective defense and security along the strategically important maritime routes.
The three routes form a key corridor connecting the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea and carry significant volumes of international trade and energy supplies. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in particular, is an important route for global shipping, with an estimated 10 to 12 percent of global seaborne trade passing through the waterway.
The security of the Red Sea shipping corridor has come under increased scrutiny following attacks by Houthi forces on commercial vessels. The London marine insurance market subsequently expanded the Red Sea’s high-risk zone to include the Saudi ports of Jeddah and Yanbu.
The headquarters of the newly established alliance will be based in Saudi Arabia, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
