🔸Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday a proposal to form an international maritime defense coalition aimed at protecting shipping and energy transfer routes in the Red Sea.

🔸The Saudi Ministry of Defense said representatives of 43 countries and the European Union took part in a meeting on the initiative. Under the proposal, Saudi Arabia will act as the founding country and leader of the coalition, and its headquarters will also be in Saudi Arabia.

🔸According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the coalition will be established to strengthen maritime security, preserve freedom of navigation, ensure the security of trade and energy transfer routes, and protect shared maritime interests in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

🔸The plan was raised after Houthi attacks backed by Iran disrupted one of the world’s most important commercial routes for shipping.