Saudi Arabia names commander for maritime defence coalition | Shipping News
Saudi Arabia Appoints Commander for Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition
Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri will lead the alliance focused on securing vital trade routes.
Published: August 6, 2026
Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri as the commander of a newly established multinational maritime defence coalition designed to protect navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced Al-Shehri’s appointment in a statement released on Thursday, one week after the coalition’s official formation on July 30. According to the ministry, Al-Shehri will oversee joint naval operations, coordinate with member states and other maritime alliances, and execute missions in accordance with the coalition’s charter.
The coalition initially comprises Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye, and Yemen. More nations are reportedly in the process of formalizing their membership, with some having already signed the coalition’s joint declaration and others set to do so shortly.
The ministry characterized the coalition as “an open international coalition” that welcomes countries aligned with its objectives and principles, adding that it continues to accept new membership applications.
A planning meeting is scheduled for August 12-13 to finalize the coalition’s institutional framework and facilitate the accession of additional countries.
This coalition aims to safeguard freedom of navigation and secure international trade routes, as well as energy supply lines in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden—strategic waterways linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.
The coalition’s formation comes amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where renewed hostilities between the United States and Israel against Iran have raised concerns about the closure of this crucial route, which previously accounted for approximately 20% of global oil and gas supplies. This situation poses significant challenges for the global economy.
