Saudi Arabia has announced a new multinational maritime defence alliance to protect shipping through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden amid renewed attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement.

Fourteen countries, including Bangladesh, have backed the initiative, while representatives from 43 countries and the European Union attended the meeting in Riyadh.

The move comes as one of the world's busiest trade routes faces growing security risks.

Here's what the new coalition means and why Bangladesh has joined it.

What is the new maritime coalition and why has Saudi Arabia launched it now?

The Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance is a Saudi-led initiative aimed at strengthening security along the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, three waterways that carry a significant share of global trade and energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia will host the alliance's headquarters and serve as its leading state.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Defence, participating countries will cooperate through intelligence sharing, joint planning, maritime exercises and coordinated operations to safeguard international shipping and freedom of navigation.

The timing is closely linked to the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Following renewed conflict involving Iran and its regional allies, the Iran-backed Houthi movement has intensified attacks on commercial vessels and Saudi-linked shipping. The group has also declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, raising concerns that it could disrupt traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

For Riyadh, the issue is not only security but also economics. As tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have complicated Gulf shipping, the Red Sea has become an increasingly important export route for Saudi oil through the kingdom's East-West Pipeline that ends at Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

According to many analysts, Saudi Arabia wants to build a broader regional security framework to protect this alternative export corridor and reassure global shipping companies.

Why is the Bab al-Mandeb Strait so important?

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, making it one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints.

Roughly 12 percent of global trade passes through the route each year, including oil, liquefied natural gas, consumer goods and raw materials moving between Asia, Europe and Africa.

Any prolonged disruption would affect global supply chains, increase shipping costs and push up insurance premiums for commercial vessels.

The Houthis' control over much of Yemen's western coastline gives them the ability to threaten ships transiting the waterway. According to security analysts, even limited attacks can create uncertainty in global markets because shipping companies may reroute vessels or temporarily suspend operations.

Why has Bangladesh joined the coalition?

Bangladesh says its decision is rooted in its strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia and its interest in ensuring the security of international sea lanes.

Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said the alliance is intended to tackle threats posed by the Houthis and that Bangladesh would extend whatever resources it has to support the initiative.

He described Bangladesh's relationship with Saudi Arabia as a strategic one that goes beyond Hajj and Umrah, saying cooperation in security, moral support and addressing Houthi-related challenges are all part of the broader partnership.

From Bangladesh's perspective, stable maritime trade routes are also an economic necessity.

Any prolonged disruption in the Red Sea affects international shipping, increases freight costs and ultimately impacts countries dependent on global trade, including Bangladesh.

However, experts believe Dhaka's participation should not be interpreted as a military commitment.

Ataur Rahman Talukder, an assistant professor of International Relations at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), told Daily Waadaa that Bangladesh's participation is primarily a "symbolic gesture."

According to him, Bangladesh has agreed in principle with the initiative because protecting international maritime trade serves its national interest.

However, he does not expect Bangladesh to participate in combat operations against the Houthis or become directly involved in any military confrontation.

He also stressed that joining the coalition does not mean Bangladesh is taking sides against Iran or supporting military action against any particular country. Rather, it reflects Dhaka's support for maritime security and freedom of navigation while maintaining its balanced foreign policy.

Why didn't the UAE and Oman join the coalition?

Although the United Arab Emirates and Oman share concerns about maritime security, neither country signed the coalition's founding declaration.

Analysts say the UAE has increasingly pursued an independent regional security policy and may prefer flexible partnerships over joining a new military alliance whose long-term operational structure is still taking shape.

Oman, meanwhile, has long maintained a policy of neutrality and balanced diplomacy. Muscat has often acted as a mediator between regional rivals, including Iran and Gulf Arab states, and generally avoids joining security initiatives that could be interpreted as taking sides.

Some analysts also believe both countries may be waiting to see how the coalition develops before deciding whether to formally join.

Can the coalition really make a difference?

That remains the biggest question.

Supporters argue that the alliance demonstrates greater regional responsibility for protecting one of the world's most important shipping corridors. They say closer intelligence sharing, coordinated planning and joint maritime cooperation could improve responses to attacks on commercial shipping.

However, many analysts caution against overestimating the coalition's military capability.

Among the 14 founding members, only a few countries -- such as Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia -- possess relatively capable naval forces. Several participating states have only modest maritime capabilities, while others maintain small coastal or patrol fleets with limited capacity for sustained operations in contested waters.

As a result, some defence analysts view the alliance as more political than military, arguing that many countries have joined primarily to express diplomatic support for Saudi Arabia and the principle of protecting international shipping rather than to commit significant naval assets.

Others describe it as a symbolic coalition at this stage. They argue that its effectiveness will ultimately depend on whether members contribute meaningful operational resources, establish a clear command structure and coordinate closely with existing international naval missions already operating in the Red Sea.

For now, the alliance sends a strong political message of regional solidarity. Whether it evolves into an effective security mechanism will become clear only after it moves beyond declarations and begins actual operations.