Saudi Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Ghufaili emphasized on Sunday the importance of strengthening international cooperation to protect vital maritime corridors.
He stressed the need to ensure freedom of navigation and the safety of international trade, noting that maritime security is a shared responsibility requiring concerted international efforts.
Al-Ghufaili headed the Saudi Ministry of Defense delegation at the opening of the 22nd Regional Security Summit (IISS Manama Dialogue 2026). The summit brought together high-level international delegations comprising ministers, security officials, and military commanders.
Addressing the forum, Al-Ghufaili explained that seas and waterways are vital arteries for the global economy, energy security, and supply chains. He warned that any disruption in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, or Gulf of Aden would affect international trade, energy markets, and food security.
Al-Ghufaili noted that Houthi attacks on commercial vessels and oil tankers since 2023, alongside disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, underscore the seriousness of maritime threats.
He stressed the need for an effective collective response to protect vital shipping routes and strengthen regional and international security and stability.
He stated that Saudi Arabia launched an international initiative on July 30, resulting in the establishment of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition.
The coalition has been joined by 14 countries, while others have expressed their willingness to join upon completing their relevant national procedures.
Al-Ghufaili emphasized that protecting vessels, maritime facilities, ports, and shipping lanes requires cooperation, coordination, and information sharing. He also highlighted the importance of joint capacity building and preventive measures to avert crises before they occur.
He stressed that force cannot replace the rule of law and that disputes must not threaten freedom of navigation or the safety of international trade.
He explained that Saudi Arabia's vision for maritime security is based on respecting the sovereignty and legitimate rights of states and ensuring freedom of navigation and passage in accordance with international law.
It also calls for preventing the use of maritime corridors as instruments of pressure or escalation and categorically rejects attacks on commercial vessels and civilian facilities. The vision further emphasizes strengthening regional and international cooperation to address maritime threats in all their forms.
Al-Ghufaili stated that maritime security cannot be achieved through military capabilities alone. It also requires trust, transparency, common rules, and mechanisms to prevent escalation. He called for establishing a sustainable regional maritime security framework based on prevention, early warning, information sharing, and operational coordination. Such a framework would support collective action to address risks before they develop into crises.
He stressed that seas must remain bridges of communication and prosperity rather than arenas of conflict. International straits must remain safe passages for navigation rather than instruments of political or military pressure, while international law must remain the reference framework for resolving disputes between states.
Al-Ghufaili reaffirmed that maritime security, freedom of navigation, and the stability of international straits are shared international responsibilities. He emphasized the need for partnership, adherence to international law, and prioritizing dialogue and wisdom over escalation and confrontation.
These principles serve the security of regional countries and safeguard the interests of the international community.
