MORONI, Comoros — Comoros has become one of the founding members of a new multinational maritime defense alliance created to strengthen security along some of the world’s most important shipping routes.

The alliance brings together 14 countries, including Comoros, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Türkiye and Yemen. The group aims to protect freedom of navigation and safeguard international trade and energy routes through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden.

For Comoros, participation represents a significant development in its international maritime-security engagement. The island nation has strategic interests in Indian Ocean shipping and has been strengthening coordination between national agencies responsible for maritime security.

The new alliance comes amid continued concerns about disruptions to commercial shipping in the Red Sea region.

Comoros' participation puts the island nation within a wider international effort to strengthen maritime security and protect global trade routes.

The coalition is expected to develop its institutional framework and operational cooperation as participating countries work toward improving maritime security.