Fourteen countries have backed a Saudi proposal to set up a multinational “Maritime Defense Alliance,” aimed toward defending worldwide shipping routes and world commerce, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense stated in a press release Thursday.
The countries are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.
The ministry stated army chiefs and different representatives from 43 countries attended a gathering on the initiative, both in individual or by video hyperlink. A European Union delegation additionally took half.
Participants mentioned assaults on industrial vessels, power carriers and maritime infrastructure, together with the dangers they pose to navigation, world provide chains and the worldwide economic system, in accordance to the assertion.
“It was agreed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would be the founding and leading country of the alliance, and host its main headquarters,” the assertion stated.
The proposed alliance is “an open international defensive initiative” for countries that share its objectives and rules, in accordance to the assertion, including that it will search to improve maritime safety and protect “the freedom of navigation and global trade.”
The 14 countries issued a joint assertion supporting the undertaking and welcoming the consensus reached on its founding preparations, in accordance to the ministry. Other taking part countries additionally expressed help and have been finishing home approval procedures, it stated.