Saudi Arabia Launches Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition for Red Sea

Many countries that live near a big ocean highway have decided to team up to keep ships safe.

Saudi Arabia is leading this new team, which is called the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition.

The team will guard three important water routes: the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.

These routes are very busy — almost a third of the world's container ships travel through them.

Lately, some attackers have been using drones, missiles, and explosive boats to scare or stop ships.

So fifteen countries signed an agreement to work together, and thirteen are now fully active members.

The team will have its main headquarters in the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and a Saudi admiral will lead it.

The countries want to protect trade and energy shipments and take charge of safety in their own seas.

Some neighbours, like the United Arab Emirates and Oman, decided not to join because they have their own plans.