Bangladesh says it joined Saudi-led maritime coalition to support regional stability
DHAKA: Bangladesh joined the Saudi-led maritime coalition to support efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, its state minister for foreign affairs told Arab News on Saturday, after the Kingdom announced formation of the international alliance.
The Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance was established on Thursday following an international meeting hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh, with the support of 14 countries, including Bangladesh, Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkiye and Jordan.
It is aimed at protecting freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and safeguard energy supply lines across key waterways, namely the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“We agree with the idea of forming a maritime defense alliance aiming to secure the movement of vessels through the Red Sea and surrounding waterways,” Shama Obaed Islam, Bangladesh’s state minister of foreign affairs, said.
