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Maldivian and Saudi Arabian officials stand on stage during the ceremony to sign the charter of the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition.

MALÉ: The Maldives officially joined a Saudi-led defense alliance today to protect shipping routes and secure maritime trade across the Gulf region.

Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy signed the charter of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition on behalf of the Maldives during a ceremony held at Bandaarakoshe. The signing follows parliamentary approval granted by the People’s Majlis last month to join the 14-nation coalition.

The coalition was established by Saudi Arabia alongside partner nations to guarantee freedom of navigation, global commerce, and energy transit across key Gulf pathways, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea. The alliance formed after rising maritime risks caused by sea blockades and attacks against commercial shipping in the area.

According to the Ministry of Defence, joining the alliance will strengthen bilateral relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Officials highlighted that participation ensures the safety of critical Gulf sea routes used to transport essential goods to the Maldives while broadening the country’s involvement in protecting its national maritime interests.

Operations for the coalition will be managed from its permanent headquarters in Saudi Arabia, with member nations participating on a sovereign basis under international maritime law. With the Maldives formally joining, the coalition now includes 15 member states alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, and Yemen.