The United States’ Trump administration needs to develop a more comprehensive Yemen policy in coordination with Gulf partners, suggested April Longley Alley in an analysis published by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Alley found that the current U.S. approach to Yemen is not fit for purpose, adding that The Houthis pose more, not less, of a risk to U.S. interests than they did before the Gaza war.
April Longley Alley, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and former senior political advisor to the UN special envoy for Yemen, suggested “The first step is to bring together a “Yemen team” to update U.S. policy internally and begin discussing options at a senior level with Gulf officials. Whether the choice is containment, confrontation, updated compromises, or some combination, the following measures will be critical:
• Work with Yemeni and Gulf partners to put a credible military threat back on the table. At minimum, government-aligned forces must be supported enough to hold current frontlines and launch counteroffensives. This entails continued air support from the Saudi-led coalition, especially in Marib and along the Red Sea coast.
• Provide clear security guarantees to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, such as additional arms sales, increased training and exercises, and a commitment to come to their defense if the Houthis attack.
• Provide unified support for Yemeni government reform. The internationally recognized government—especially its executive body—is divided and ineffective, and efforts to reform it have been slowed in part by the fact that Saudi Arabia and the UAE support competing factions. Senior U.S. officials can provide an invaluable convening role by bringing Gulf partners together on a strategic vision for supporting a reformed government.
• Do more to target Houthi arms and money. This entails working with Oman, the UAE, and others to improve weapons interdiction and stop illicit financial flows to the group.
• Restart a dedicated political process that explores potential off-ramps and a revised political settlement, including a Gulf-supported reconstruction and development package.
None of these options will have much traction if unilateral Israeli airstrikes continue. Accordingly, once the United States and its Gulf partners agree on a revised plan, Washington must do what is necessary to gain Israeli buy-in. Considering the Gulf’s growing frustration with Israel’s unilateral military action in the region and the perceived unreliability of U.S. security guarantees, working on the Yemen file together is a chance for vital confidence-building and cooperation.