The Cabinet has approved the Maldives' participation in a Saudi-led coalition formed to counter attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on vessels navigating the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The matter has now been forwarded to the People’s Majlis for parliamentary approval.
The Cabinet reached the decision to join the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance during a meeting on August 2. The alliance, which includes 14 nations including Saudi Arabia, was officially announced on July 30.
Following this decision, the proposal to join, sign, and ratify the Charter of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition was submitted to the Parliament today for its consent.
In a letter addressed to the Parliament, President Mohamed Muizzu stated that the Maldives' participation and signing of the coalition agreement would not impose any financial or legal obligations on the Maldivian citizens.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, the maritime defense coalition includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, and the internationally recognized government of Yemen. The coalition's inaugural meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow and the following day.
Member states of the coalition are required to cooperate against any threats or attacks in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb region. This cooperation includes the sharing of intelligence and the conduct of joint maritime exercises.
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, situated between Djibouti and Yemen, is a critical global shipping lane, accounting for 12 percent of international trade and 11 percent of the world's seaborne oil transport.
The Saudi-led maritime coalition was established a week after Houthi rebels banned Saudi vessels from transiting the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthi decision follows years of conflict in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has supported the internationally recognized government against the rebel group.
