ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commodore Rashid Sheikh assumed the role of deputy commander of the Combined maritime Forces, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said this week, as the multination alliance began its operational phase from its command headquarters.

The CMF is a multinational maritime partnership that focuses on counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities and improve overall security. The alliance operates in around 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which includes the world’s most important shipping lanes.

The CMF comprises 47 nations including Pakistan, Bahrain, the US, the UK, Canada, Egypt, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the UAE, among others.

“The multinational Combined Maritime Forces begins the practical implementation phase from its command headquarters, with Commodore Rashid Sheikh from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan assuming his duties as Deputy Commander of the Coalition,” the Saudi defense ministry said on Wednesday.

The CMF comprises multiple task forces such as the CTF 150, concerned with maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf, the CTF 151 which deals in countering piracy, and the CTF 152, which is concerned with maritime security operations inside the Arabian Gulf.

The other two task forces part of the CMF are the CTF 153, which is concerned with maritime security around the Red Sea and the CT154, concerned with maritime security training.

Pakistan enjoys strong naval coordination with several countries worldwide, especially those that are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The significance of maritime alliances such as the CMF have grown significantly over the past few months as tensions persist between the United States (US) and Iran in the Middle East.

The two countries have regularly exchanged missile, drone and air strikes since their conflict began in February, disrupting some of the world’s most important shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz .