Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, Germany, and Japan have announced the formation of a Steering Committee to guide the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership, in coordination with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The announcement came during the partnership’s inaugural meeting in Riyadh, chaired by Abda Sharif, the British Ambassador to Yemen.
In a joint statement, participating countries said the new committee reflects the international community’s firm commitment to supporting Yemen. The partnership itself was launched in Riyadh last September with more than 35 countries and organizations, securing multi-year pledges to strengthen the Yemeni Coast Guard.
According to the statement, the committee will focus on securing Yemen’s maritime domain and reinforcing regional stability amid rising threats in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These challenges include illicit trafficking, dangerous migration routes, and growing security risks affecting one of the world’s most critical waterways. Ensuring the safe flow of global trade through Yemeni waters remains a central objective.
Member states reaffirmed their full support for the Yemeni government in building Coast Guard capacity, by protecting territorial waters, countering unsafe migration, conducting sea rescues, and improving coastal economic opportunities for communities dependent on maritime livelihoods.
The committee stressed that international assistance would align with Yemen’s national strategy to rebuild its Coast Guard and will be delivered in direct coordination with Yemeni leadership to ensure national ownership and sustainable, long-term institutional development.
It highlighted the need to strengthen operational capabilities to intercept weapons, narcotics, and smuggled goods, which pose persistent threats that undermine Yemen’s security and the wider region. Enhanced capacities, the statement noted, will also reduce activities that exploit current instability to destabilize Red Sea shipping lanes.
Participants underscored the importance of human-rights-based approaches and sound governance across the maritime security sector, including improved personnel management, expanded training systems, and greater institutional transparency.
The committee also emphasized increasing women’s participation in recruitment, training, and leadership roles, calling it essential to improving the Coast Guard’s effectiveness and aligning with international maritime security standards.
Looking ahead, member states committed to expanding the partnership next year by deepening regional and international cooperation and promoting burden-sharing among countries concerned with Red Sea and Gulf of Aden security. This includes engagement with regional organizations and coastal states whose economic and strategic interests depend on stable and secure maritime corridors.
