Saudi Arabia and Italy have issued a joint declaration highlighting the need to protect freedom of navigation and strengthen maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab. The statement was released in Rome on July 29, 2026, on the sidelines of meetings linked to the New York conference working groups and the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
The two countries underscored the importance of keeping key sea lanes secure at a time when regional tensions continue to draw attention to major shipping chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab are among the world’s most sensitive maritime passages, making safe transit a central issue for trade flows, energy markets and wider international stability.
By stressing freedom of navigation, Saudi Arabia and Italy signaled a shared interest in safeguarding commercial movement and preventing disruptions in strategic waterways. Their declaration also reflects broader diplomatic coordination on regional security issues beyond the main agenda of the Rome gathering.
The statement came during a broader round of consultations involving international partners focused on Middle East diplomacy. While the meetings in Rome centered on cooperation around the two-state solution framework, the Saudi-Italian declaration showed how maritime security remains closely tied to wider political and economic stability in the region.
