Heads of the coast guard forces of Djibouti, Somaliland and Yemen Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) held a meeting in Djibouti to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, combat organized crime and all forms of smuggling, and protect navigation in the western Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the southern Red Sea.
The discussions emphasized the importance of unifying efforts and exchanging expertise and information to confront security challenges in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and ensure the safety of international navigation.
The Yemeni IRG Coast Guard Authority has recently gained regional and international attention, highlighted by the International Conference on the Yemeni Maritime Security Partnership held on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the participation of over 40 countries. Several countries pledged $10 million in support to help rehabilitate the authority.
Participating states also committed to providing the Yemeni Coast Guard with specialized training, equipment, and institutional capacity-building, in addition to establishing a secretariat to coordinate international efforts and ensure that resources are properly allocated.