Saudi Arabia has announced a multinational defence alliance to keep commercial and energy shipping safe in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. Fourteen countries, including Bangladesh, have signed on to the alliance, called the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, Al Jazeera reported.
The alliance said the step was taken to ensure the security of international sea lanes in the face of Houthi rebel attacks and continuing Middle East tensions. According to Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry, keeping these strategically vital lanes safe for global trade and energy supply is the alliance’s main aim.
Of the 51 countries invited to form the alliance, representatives of 43 took part in the talks. In the end, along with Bangladesh, Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Comoros formally joined; the United Arab Emirates and Oman did not sign.
The alliance will be headquartered in Saudi Arabia, and member states will share intelligence, carry out strategic planning and hold joint naval exercises. The Saudi defence ministry said clearly that the alliance was entirely defensive and not formed against any particular country, and that the door remained open for others to join; some countries said they would join after internal discussions.
With the Strait of Hormuz nearly shut by the Middle East crisis, more than half of the world’s oil and gas supply now depends on this alternative Red Sea route. About 10 to 12 percent of global trade and millions of barrels of oil a day pass through the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The 14-nation alliance is expected to play an effective role in stopping Houthi attacks at this vulnerable chokepoint and keeping global energy prices in check.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report