Maldives Moves to Join Saudi-Led Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance
- President Muizzu submitted the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance agreement to the Majlis for approval.
- Membership would offer intelligence sharing, training and surveillance cooperation without deploying Maldivian forces to conflicts.
- The move reflects economic reliance on shipping and deepening ties with Saudi Arabia.
The Maldives is moving to join a Saudi-led maritime security coalition established to protect major international shipping routes across the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has submitted the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance agreement to the People’s Majlis for approval, beginning the legislative process required for the country to enter the coalition.
The alliance was established on 30 July 2026 under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, with its command structures and permanent headquarters based in the kingdom. Its 14 founding members are Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan and Comoros.
The coalition is expected to focus on intelligence sharing, joint operational planning, military exercises, capacity development and coordinated maritime activities. Its framework describes the alliance as defensive and allows each member to decide whether to participate in individual operations according to its national laws and capabilities.
For the Maldives, membership would provide access to a wider maritime security network without necessarily requiring the deployment of Maldivian forces to conflict areas. The country’s likely contribution would centre on information sharing, training and cooperation in maritime surveillance.
The decision also reflects the Maldives’ economic exposure to disruptions affecting international shipping. The country depends heavily on maritime imports for fuel, food, construction materials, machinery and goods required by the tourism industry.
Instability along the Red Sea route can force commercial vessels to travel around the Cape of Good Hope, extending journey times and raising freight and insurance costs. These increases can feed into domestic prices and place further pressure on the country’s foreign currency requirements.
Membership could also provide the Maldives National Defence Force with access to joint exercises, technical knowledge and intelligence relevant to protecting the country’s extensive exclusive economic zone.
The proposal forms part of the Muizzu administration’s expanding engagement with Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern partners. Saudi Arabia has supported several development projects in the Maldives, while cooperation between the two countries has extended across infrastructure, finance, religious affairs and institutional development.
The agreement must receive parliamentary approval before the Maldives can formally join the alliance. It is expected to undergo scrutiny within the Majlis as lawmakers consider the country’s proposed security commitments and the operational implications of membership.
