Maritime Security: Saudi Arabia’s new 14-country Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition is now taking shape to protect the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden after Houthi attacks and a declared naval blockade—Djibouti is among the signatories, with Riyadh hosting the permanent command structure. Anti-Piracy Coordination: Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC) states agreed to set up a Combined DCOC Task Force to share intelligence, coordinate coast guard and naval operations, and speed responses to piracy resurgence across the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. Trade & Logistics: Kenya hosted a regional validation workshop for the Horn of Africa Initiative Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2026–2031, targeting smoother cross-border trade for Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan through corridor governance, border management and digital interoperability. Energy & Industry Context: A separate push highlights how unreliable power and weak cross-border electricity networks are holding back industrial growth across Africa, pointing to grid bottlenecks and financing gaps. Aviation Infrastructure: Chinese firms dominate Ethiopia’s Bishoftu International Airport shortlist, signaling continued Chinese construction influence in the Horn’s transport buildout.