# Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry says 13 countries have backed its proposal to establish a Maritime Defence Alliance to protect international shipping routes and global trade. This follows the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20-percent of global oil and gas exports, due to the US-Iranian conflict. The countries in favour of the alliance include Pakistan, Bahrain, Yemen and Sudan. They say in a joint statement it’s critical to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Thirteen countries support Saudi proposal for the establishment of a Maritime Defence Alliance