redsea

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently finalizing two new, significant trilateral military alliances, marking a major shift in its foreign policy and regional influence. This strategic expansion is set to reshape dynamics in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
One alliance is taking shape with Pakistan and Turkey, while the other is being forged with Egypt and Somalia. By integrating Turkey, Egypt, and Somalia into its strategic framework, Saudi Arabia is decisively entering the geopolitical game in the Horn of Africa for the first time.
This move began with Riyadh’s strategic pivot toward the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa in late 2025. The core objectives are clear: building a robust network of alliances and investments to secure vital maritime routes, ensure food security under the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, and effectively counter perceived threats to regional stability.
Historically, Riyadh's engagement in this critical region was limited, primarily focusing on religious outreach and modest economic ties. However, the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016 dramatically reframed the Horn of Africa's importance, recognizing it as vital for Saudi Arabia’s agricultural imports and Red Sea dominance.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has actively been providing substantial aid and military support to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the ongoing civil war, aiming to secure increased access to Port Sudan. Concurrently, the Saudis are developing a logistics hub in Djibouti and hold significant port development interests in Eritrea’s Assab, envisioning it as a future regional transshipment hub.
Further solidifying its regional footprint, Riyadh has pursued crucial port deals in Somalia, alongside providing Mogadishu with essential arms, training, and intelligence sharing. These concerted efforts culminated in a nascent "Red Sea Axis" by January 2026, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia in coordination with Turkey, highlighted by a naval cooperation meeting in Ankara. A landmark naval protocol was also signed with Egypt in September last year.
These bold new Saudi alliances are garnering attention and raising alarms in Israel and the US. They suggest that Riyadh may be hedging its bets, potentially drifting from full Western alignment towards stronger regional partnerships and an implicit pivot towards China and Russia. The implications for global power balances and regional security are profound.
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