Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that 14 countries have reaffirmed their support for the creation of a “multinational defense maritime coalition” aimed at protecting against threats in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

It identified the countries as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia. The coalition would protect shipping from Houthi attacks, sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defense said it hosted a meeting Thursday with representatives from 43 nations, “reflecting growing international interest in reinforcing maritime defense cooperation.”

“Participants discussed the increasing threats targeting maritime security — including attacks on commercial vessels, energy tankers, and maritime infrastructure — and the risks they pose to the safety of maritime navigation and the stability of global supply chains. They emphasized the importance of enhancing multilateral defense cooperation to confront these threats, deter them, and preserve the security of international sea lanes,” it said.

“Furthermore, participants reviewed the draft charter of the multinational defense maritime coalition, its reference documents, organizational structure, command and control arrangements, operational mechanisms, and future action steps. This ensures a robust institutional framework that enhances maritime defense cooperation among participating nations and addresses joint maritime threats in (Bab-el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden),” the ministry added.

“During the meeting, foundational arrangements for the multinational defense maritime coalition project were discussed, foremost of which is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be the founding nation and leader of the coalition, hosting its headquarters — reflecting international trust in the Kingdom’s leadership role in enhancing collective maritime security,” it also said.