--- title: "Saudi Arabia forms a naval coalition of 14 countries against Houthis: how the balance of power in the Red Sea will change" description: "🚨 Saudi Arabia has formed a naval coalition of 14 countries against the Houthis! 🌊🛡️ The alliance aims to restore shipping safety in the Red Sea, disrupted by the Houthi blockade. Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and other countries have joined. The UAE and Israel are not participating due to regional conflicts. The Houthis threaten \"full-scale escalation.\" #SaudiArabia #Houthis #RedSea #NavalCoalition" date: 2026-08-11T22:46:51.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/saudi-arabia-naval-coalition-14-countries-against-houthis-en tags: [saudi-arabia, houthis, red-sea, military-coalition, middle-east] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Saudi Arabia forms a naval coalition of 14 countries against Houthis: how the balance of power in the Red Sea will change ![Fighter in black balaclava with AK-47 on board of a ship in the Red Sea — symbol of Houthi threat, against which Saudi Arabia formed a naval coalition](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/12/saudi-arabia-naval-coalition-14-countries-against-houthis/saudi-arabia-naval-coalition-14-countries-against-houthis-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Saudi Arabia has formed a naval coalition of 14 countries to counter the Houthis. - The coalition aims to restore shipping safety in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. - The UAE and Israel are not participating in the coalition due to regional conflicts. - The Houthis threaten "full-scale escalation" in response to the creation of the alliance. On August 12, 2026, it was announced that a large-scale naval coalition under the auspices of Saudi Arabia had been formed, uniting 14 states to counter threats from the Houthis in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The alliance, headquartered in Riyadh, aims to restore shipping safety, which has been disrupted by a months-long blockade initiated by rebels from Yemen. ### Alliance structure and key players The coalition includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, and the Yemeni government. The statement also mentions the participation of Eritrea, which is particularly important given its geographical location at the entrance to the Red Sea. The core of the alliance consists of Egypt and Saudi Arabia — countries with the most powerful naval fleets in the region. Turkey and Pakistan make a significant contribution with their frigates and destroyers, while smaller states, such as Djibouti or the Comoros, are limited to basic coastal defense and logistical support. ### Reasons for creating the coalition: blockade and threat of isolation The formation of the alliance is a direct response to the actions of the Houthis, who have systematically attacked commercial ships linked to Saudi Arabia and Israel since 2023. According to international maritime organizations, shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait has decreased by approximately 20%, dealing a serious blow to global logistics. The Houthis, receiving support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are stockpiling ballistic missiles and drones, threatening complete maritime isolation of the region. The coalition aims not only to protect commercial vessels but also to intercept illegal arms shipments through Eritrea and Sudan, which are used as transit points for the Houthis and the Al-Shabaab and Islamic State groups in Somalia. ### Contradictory data Despite the official statement of solidarity, there are serious disagreements regarding the composition and effectiveness of the coalition. The UAE, which possesses significant naval capabilities, is not included in the structure due to a long-standing regional conflict with Saudi Arabia related to the war in Sudan and the struggle for influence in Yemen and Somalia. Furthermore, the UAE has lost access to some of its bases on Yemeni islands near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and in northern Somalia, weakening its ability to participate in joint operations. It also remains unclear how the new alliance will coordinate its actions with Western missions, including Task Force 153 under Egyptian command and the European Union's Operation Aspides, which has been escorting commercial ships since February 2024. ### Absence of Israel and geopolitical consequences Interestingly, Israel, despite being officially considered an enemy by Houthi forces, is absent from the list of participating countries. Saudi Arabia has frozen the normalization process under the Abraham Accords due to conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as Israel's recognition of the self-proclaimed Somaliland. This decision reflects the complex geopolitical situation in the region, where countries' interests often intersect and contradict each other. Thus, the coalition represents Saudi Arabia's attempt to strengthen its leadership in the region without entering into direct conflict with Israel, but also without ignoring its role in regional security. ### Prospects and challenges for the coalition For African naval forces, such as Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, which lack destroyers and frigates, operational groups would become a cornerstone in the fight against piracy and smuggling. However, the success of the coalition depends on the ability of participating countries to coordinate their actions and overcome internal disagreements. Moreover, the Houthis, receiving support from Iran, may respond to the creation of the coalition with a "full-scale escalation," which would further exacerbate the situation in the region. Ultimately, the coalition represents an important step towards restoring security in the Red Sea, but its effectiveness will depend on the ability of participating countries to overcome geopolitical and military challenges. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Saudi Arabia creates a coalition in the Red Sea, Houthis promise it "full-scale escalation"](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/07/31/yemen-houthis) - Основной источник информации о создании коалиции и её составе. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Which countries are part of the coalition? **A:** The coalition includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, and the Yemeni government. The participation of Eritrea is also mentioned. ### Q: Why is the UAE not participating in the coalition? **A:** The UAE is not included in the structure due to a long-standing regional conflict with Saudi Arabia related to the war in Sudan and the struggle for influence in Yemen and Somalia. ### Q: What is the purpose of creating the coalition? **A:** The goal of the coalition is to restore shipping safety in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, disrupted by the Houthi blockade, and to intercept illegal arms shipments. ### Q: How did the Houthis react to the creation of the coalition? **A:** The Houthis have promised "full-scale escalation" in response to the creation of the coalition, which could exacerbate the situation in the region.