Red Sea Security: Saudi Arabia has named Vice Adm. Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri as commander of its new Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, formed to protect navigation and trade lanes around Bab el-Mandeb, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden; founding members include Djibouti and Somalia, with more countries expected to join after a planners’ meeting on Aug 12-13. Djibouti Business & Logistics: A separate analysis warns Djibouti’s long-standing “neutrality” image could face pressure as Middle East conflict reshapes the Bab el-Mandeb corridor that underpins Djibouti’s role as a maritime gateway. Trade & Industry: Gypto Pharma and Djibouti’s Bacha Group signed an MoU to expand Egyptian pharmaceutical exports and improve medicine supply across the Horn of Africa and East Africa. Connectivity & Tech: Djibouti received China’s MAZU-Urban AI weather early-warning system, tailored for ports and airports, to forecast extreme weather up to 24 hours ahead and speed up alerts to frontline teams. US Travel Policy: The US made permanent a visa bond programme for B-1/B-2 applicants from Djibouti and other African countries, with refundable deposits up to $20,000 depending on consular decisions. Regional Economy: India reported coffee exports reaching 140+ countries in FY2025–26, including new markets such as Djibouti.