Saudi Arabia’s new coalition move for the Red Sea: Claims of an invitation to Turkey
According to the British press, Riyadh has called on approximately 50 countries to join a new maritime security coalition against the Houthi threat in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
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It has been claimed that Saudi Arabia is preparing to establish a new multinational military coalition to protect maritime traffic and commercial routes in the Red Sea. According to reports in the British press, the Riyadh administration has sent invitations to participate to approximately 50 countries, including Turkey and the US, in response to the moves by the Iran-backed Houthis around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
The report stated that countries with coastlines on the Red Sea, such as Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia, have responded positively to the proposal. Based on information from two high-level diplomatic sources and a US official, it was stated that the Saudi-led initiative could be announced shortly.
ALL EYES ON ANKARA AND WASHINGTON
The stance of the US is seen as critical for the coalition, which is planned to be headquartered in Riyadh and operate under Saudi command. While it was reported that some countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy, are waiting for Washington's position before making a decision, it is assessed that the US may be reluctant to shift more power to the Yemen theater.
While it was reported that Turkey is also among the invited countries, Ankara's stance on participating in such an alliance led by Riyadh remains uncertain. The report noted that Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Bangladesh have also received invitations, while no invitation has been sent to the United Arab Emirates yet. It was stated that Oman is keeping its distance from the initiative to maintain its mediation role with Iran.
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait stands out as one of the critical transit points connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden. Following the tension with Iran, the transport of a significant portion of Saudi oil exports by road to the Yanbu Port on the Red Sea has further increased the strategic importance of the line for Riyadh.
The Yemeni Houthis, whom the US has designated as a terrorist organization, had announced that they were imposing an embargo on Saudi exports via Bab-el-Mandeb following an attack on Sana'a International Airport. Although the attack was claimed by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, the Houthis held Riyadh responsible and announced that they had retaliated with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to information reflected in Reuters, the Houthis also threatened to demand fees from commercial ships passing through the southern Red Sea. The new coalition is intended to be a continuation of the Red Sea Council established in 2020, with the goal of undertaking tasks in the areas of piracy, smuggling, and counter-terrorism, in addition to ensuring freedom of navigation.