Why is Saudi Arabia forming a coalition to protect the Red Sea?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Saudi Arabia is moving to assemble an international maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping after attacks and threats by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement. Citing Reuters and other reports, Al Jazeera said dozens of governments have been asked to participate, though the membership list has not been finalized. The proposed mission would be based in Riyadh and could be announced imminently, according to the report.

The push follows a Houthi-declared maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, which Al Jazeera said disrupted oil shipments that had been rerouted through the Red Sea after problems in the Strait of Hormuz. The report said the Houthis have also been considering fees on vessels using the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow chokepoint between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. Saudi-flagged ships and oil facilities have reportedly been targeted, including a claim by Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree that the NCC Ghazal tanker was attacked with ballistic missiles.

Countries reportedly invited include the United States, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and several European states. Al Jazeera, citing Al-Monitor, said Egypt, Djibouti and Sudan had agreed to join, while Washington had not publicly confirmed participation. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, with reports saying Riyadh wants to avoid a broader escalation while defending its own interests.

The Red Sea matters because it links the Suez Canal, Bab al-Mandeb and the Indian Ocean, making it central to energy and commercial trade. Al Jazeera said disruptions have added pressure to global supply lines and oil prices, especially as Gulf exports through Hormuz remain under strain.