Saudi Arabia has established a maritime coalition to protect against Houthi attacks in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Thirteen countries, including Yemen not under Houthi control, have joined the naval alliance with Saudi Arabia.

The thirteen-country naval alliance issued a joint statement on Thursday vowing to ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The alliance stated that the coalition is necessary to ensure freedom of navigation and counter terrorist designations.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and President Trump on Wednesday to discuss plans to counter the Houthis. This diplomatic engagement follows a period of escalating maritime threats in the region.

The Houthis have attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea since November 2023. The Houthis targeted the Saudi oil tanker 'NCC Ghazal' in 2024, forcing it to alter its course, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense. The ministry stated that Houthi actions are disrupting global trade and targeting Saudi assets.

About half of Saudi crude oil exports now transit the Red Sea. Over 80% of Saudi crude oil exports were previously shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. The shift in export routes shows the strategic importance of securing the Bab al-Mandab passage for energy supplies.

Diverting ships around Africa to reach Asia extends the trip from 16 days to 50 days. This significant increase in transit time reflects the economic pressure on global shipping lines to maintain safe passage through the strait.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait saw a 40% increase in maritime traffic between 2010 and 2020, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), due to its strategic role in global trade routes. The 2024 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that 5% of global crude oil and refined products transit through the Bab al-Mandab Strait annually, making it a critical chokepoint for energy security.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense reported that over 50% of global oil shipments passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait were under the jurisdiction of the European Union's naval mission, Aspides. The Houthis have been designated as a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain since 2019, according to official statements from both countries. In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of Arab states in launching a military campaign in Yemen to counter the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and restore the internationally recognized government. In 2021, the Saudi Arabian National Guard conducted a series of joint military exercises with the Egyptian Armed Forces to enhance coordination in securing the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Why It Matters

The coalition addresses a critical shift in Saudi energy logistics, as half of its crude exports now rely on the Red Sea rather than the Strait of Hormuz. Securing this passage is essential to prevent shipping diversions that extend transit times from 16 to 50 days. The alliance of thirteen nations aims to maintain viable trade routes against ongoing Houthi attacks that have targeted Saudi ships since November 2023.