Kathmandu— Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri as the commander of a newly formed maritime defence coalition aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition was established on July 30 by 14 countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, and others to protect international trade routes and energy supply lines.

Coalition's Mission

Al-Shehri will oversee joint naval defence operations, coordinate with member states and other maritime coalitions, and carry out missions under the coalition’s charter. The coalition aims to secure vital waterways that form a strategic maritime corridor linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.

Expanding Membership

The Saudi Ministry of Defence stated that more countries are completing procedures to join the coalition, with some having already signed the joint declaration and others preparing to sign before their formal accession as founding members. The ministry described the coalition as an open international entity welcoming all countries aligned with its goals.

Upcoming Planning Meeting

The coalition will hold a planning meeting from August 12-13 to finalize its institutional framework and pave the way for additional countries to join. This comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global oil and gas supplies.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.