Riyadh (South24 Center)

On Tuesday (September 16), Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom launched an international partnership to support the Yemeni Coast Guard and enhance navigation security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The conference, hosted in Riyadh, was attended by the Yemeni government and more than 35 countries, as well as regional and international organizations.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the conference resulted in the launch of the international Yemen Maritime Security Partnership, which aims to rebuild Yemen's capabilities to combat smuggling, piracy, human trafficking, and the smuggling of weapons and drugs, in addition to protecting the maritime routes passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital channel for global trade.

The meeting announced the establishment of a joint general secretariat to manage the partnership and coordinate resources within the Yemen Technical Assistance Facility (TAFFY) to ensure the effective use of support.

Conference organizers stated that this step marks the beginning of a long-term plan to rehabilitate the capabilities of the Yemeni Coast Guard through training, equipment, and institutional support.

Participating countries pledged financial and technical contributions amounting to millions of dollars, while Saudi Arabia announced $4 million in direct support for the program.

The United Kingdom emphasized that protecting maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is "a strategic priority for the international community”, highlighting the importance of multilateral coordination to address security challenges.

Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council and Vice President of the Presidential Leadership Council, welcomed the outcomes of the maritime security conference.

He stated that the conference aimed to strengthen regional and international cooperation to enhance the capabilities of the Yemeni Coast Guard and enable it to monitor and protect the country's maritime borders.

He added that the conference's conclusions reflect a growing awareness of the strategic importance of Yemen's maritime routes as a vital artery for global trade and a fundamental guarantee of international energy security.

In a separate statement, Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a "qualitative partnership" that reflects the international community's recognition of the importance of stabilizing Yemen's maritime routes.

The conference was held amid escalating attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, raising growing concerns about its serious impact on energy security and global trade supplies.