Pakistan Joins Saudi-Led Coalition

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Pakistan is one of 14 countries that have joined the Saudi-led naval coalition aimed at protecting shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemeni mercenaries.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world’s busiest maritime straits and hosts about 12 percent of global trade. Bab al-Mandab has been undergoing a security regime change since late 2023 due to the powerful rule of Yemen's Ansar Allah in support of the Palestinian people and more recently in response to the brutal Saudi blockade.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will act as the coalition’s lead country and host its headquarters,” the Saudi Ministry of Defense said in a statement released after the naval coalition meeting.

The statement claimed that the coalition would be “purely defensive in nature” and would operate in accordance with international law, respect for the sovereignty of states, and protect freedom of navigation.

It is worth noting that the countries mentioned lack any naval capabilities to confront the powerful Yemeni army, a fact that reduces the Saudi naval coalition to a show and propaganda event.