LONDON: The Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, an initiative involving 14 countries spearheaded by Saudi Arabia, held its first planners’ meeting on Wednesday to finalize its institutional framework and pave the way for more countries to join.
Headed by Rear Adm. Abdullah bin Salem Alshehri, the coalition aims to bring an end to some three years of disruption to international shipping by safeguarding the freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
But given the years of attacks, can it really facilitate a speedy return for commercial shipping?
“CMA CGM has been getting its ships through Suez with French naval escorts so any expansion in the level of military presence on the waterway is likely to make carriers more willing to test those waters,” one freight forwarder told Arab News, referring to the French shipping and logistics company.
That those responsible for moving goods from Asia to Europe are only too happy to hear that someone is stepping up after years of stop-start efforts to resume Red Sea transits is only to be expected, given it takes an extra two weeks to sail around the Cape of Good Hope.
