Saudi Arabia Establishes Red Sea Defense Coalition to Shield Shipping Routes from Houthi Attacks

On July 31, 2026, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of an international coalition aimed at protecting vital Red Sea shipping routes used for Saudi oil exports. The Saudi Ministry of Defense convened representatives from nearly 50 countries in Riyadh to establish the Red Sea defense coalition. The coalition's primary objective is to defend against repeated attacks by Yemeni Houthi militias targeting maritime transport corridors critical to Saudi Arabia's oil supply chain. The Saudi Arabian embassy in the United States released a statement confirming the initiative and highlighting the multinational scope of the newly formed maritime defense alliance.