The Saudi Ministry of Defense updates that today in Saudi Arabia, a meeting of…

The Saudi Ministry of Defense updates that today in Saudi Arabia, a meeting of Chiefs of Staff, representatives of countries that have friendly relations with Saudi Arabia, and representatives of the European Union in Saudi Arabia took place, aimed at discussing Saudi Arabia's initiative to establish an "international maritime-defensive coalition" as part of efforts to strengthen maritime security, in the framework of protecting international shipping routes and as part of the struggle against threats to international navigation and trade routes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden (there is no mention of the Strait of Hormuz). It was also noted that a total of representatives from 43 countries attended the meeting out of 51 invited countries, and it was emphasized that the parties discussed the arrangements for the establishment of this project, primarily: that Saudi Arabia will be the founding country and the main headquarters of this coalition will be in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it was emphasized that 14 of the countries that sent representatives issued a statement of support for the project: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen (supported by Saudi Arabia and the West), Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia. @LiranHaroni