The Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition, backed by representatives from 41 countries, is nearing operational deployment to keep the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab al Mandab Strait open to shipping, the Saudi defence ministry has said.
The coalition held its fourth planning meeting in Jeddah on Thursday, part of its "ongoing transition from the founding stage to the actual operational stage, having reached Initial Operational Capability," the ministry said in a statement on X on Friday.
The session was attended by representatives of "41 brotherly and friendly countries," officials said, with EU representatives also taking part.
The coalition is a 14-country military alliance formed in July to ensure the vital waterways surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, remain open to international traffic.
It is currently integrating capabilities and preparing for operational execution and an actual presence in the maritime area of operations, the ministry said.
The meeting reviewed developments in the coalition's work, achievements during the previous phase, and progress on countries joining the alliance, according to the statement.
Discussions also covered requirements for joint operations and the capability contributions of participating countries, aimed at supporting coordinated, integrated multinational defensive operations and enhancing the coalition's operational readiness.
The ministry described the meeting as marking an "advanced stage" in the coalition's development, with focus now on operational readiness under a unified command ahead of deployment and the launch of missions in its area of responsibility.
