Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem al-Shehri as commander of a multinational maritime defence alliance comprising 14 countries, including Bangladesh. The Saudi Defence Ministry announced the appointment on Thursday, saying the move aims to protect shipping security in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Al-Shehri will oversee joint naval defence, coordinate with member states and other maritime alliances, and lead missions under the alliance’s charter. Bangladesh, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Yemen announced the alliance’s formation on July 30.

Saudi Arabia described the grouping as an open international alliance for countries that agree with its goals and principles. It said applications for membership are being received regularly, with some countries having signed the joint declaration and others preparing to sign the declaration and charter. A planning meeting on August 12 and 13 is set to finalize the alliance’s institutional structure and create a path for additional countries to join. Its stated objectives include protecting freedom of navigation, trade routes and energy supply routes.