Turkey backs Saudi-led maritime defence coalition in Red Sea

Turkey backs Saudi-led maritime defence coalition in Red Sea Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 10:37 The move would help deepen the trilateral defence pact between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Turkish Navy helicopters and ships on military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea near Antalya on 9 April (AFP/Adem Altan) Off Turkey confirmed on Thursday for the first time that it had joined efforts to establish a multinational maritime defence coalition aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The announcement signals increased cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Ankara after the signing of a trilateral pact between the states and Pakistan in Mecca last week. “At the invitation of Saudi Arabia, a technical meeting was held in Riyadh on 28 July to ensure freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, followed by a meeting of the chiefs of general staff on 30 July 2026,” the Turkish Ministry of National Defence said in a statement.