Saudi Arabian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of General Staff Vice Adm. Fahad Al-Ghufaili has called for enhanced international cooperation to safeguard strategic maritime corridors amid rising regional tensions. Addressing the 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on Sunday, Al-Ghufaili emphasized that the security of key maritime straits is a shared global responsibility and warned against the use of these waterways as tools for political or military leverage.
“Maritime security is not the responsibility of one country, and force cannot be a substitute for the law,” Al-Ghufaili said, underscoring the need for a collective and effective response to threats targeting international shipping lanes.
The comments come amid increasing concerns over the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab, vital chokepoints through which significant volumes of global oil supplies and trade pass. Tensions in the region have escalated due to the ongoing conflict involving the US and Iran, as well as ongoing hostilities in Yemen between Houthi militias and Yemeni government forces. The latter have also issued warnings that threaten maritime traffic in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
Recently, Oman confirmed it had rescued 25 sailors from the Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel RITI after it was targeted and set ablaze near the Strait of Hormuz. Oman’s Maritime Security Center described the operation as an evacuation carried out by the Omani navy following the incident. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities reported halting four oil tankers attempting to transit the same strait, underscoring the heightened risks for commercial shipping in this critical region.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji reiterated the importance of containing regional crises and strengthening security amid the expanding conflicts and their humanitarian and economic consequences. He highlighted the significance of addressing the root causes of disputes to prevent their recurrence and emphasized Riyadh’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, in coordination with regional partners, to de-escalate tensions through peaceful means.
“The Kingdom continues its diplomatic efforts, in coordination with its brothers and partners, to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through peaceful means, safeguarding regional security and stability,” Elkhereiji said during his remarks.
Also on Saturday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with foreign ministers from Germany, Japan, France, and Brazil on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta. The discussions focused on the threats to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab and their implications for energy security, global trade, and supply chains. The ministers collectively emphasized the necessity of reinforced international collaboration to protect these maritime routes and ensure the uninterrupted flow of commerce worldwide.