Saudi Arabia activates Red Sea naval coalition and strengthens defense ties with South Korea

Saudi Arabia has officially activated its new naval coalition, the Red Sea coalition, following its announcement in July. The coalition will be headquartered in Riyadh, with leadership duties assigned to a Pakistani officer. The activation comes amid rising tensions in the Bab al-Mandab strait and concerns regarding the potential for increased control by Sana'a over the maritime passage.

In a related development regarding maritime security, the Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Mohammed Alghuraibi, met with South Korea’s Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Kim Kyung-ryul, in Riyadh. The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and the importance of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition in protecting trade routes and ensuring the safety of maritime navigation amidst regional military tensions.