"Strengthening the Unified Yemeni State"... American Center: Trump's Second Presidency Will Play a Decisive Role in Determining Yemen's Future

An American research center said, "The Biden administration's efforts to support peace while weakening the Houthis' military capabilities have made it difficult to achieve diplomatic progress," noting that "the second Trump administration will play a decisive role in determining the future of Yemen."

According to a report by the American Stimpson Center - translated by "Yemeni Youth Net" - the US presidential elections were closely followed around the world, including in Yemen, a country torn apart by decades of conflict.

The US report said, "The administration must support the establishment of a politically and militarily unified Yemeni government to strengthen the Yemeni state and enable it to effectively confront various threats."

Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, is home to one of the most significant non-state actors in the Middle East, the Iran-backed Houthi group, which controls nearly half of Yemen’s population, according to the report.

Over the past year, the Houthis have increasingly disrupted vital global sea routes, exacerbating tensions in the region. “In this complex theater of geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy decisions will be critical in shaping Yemen’s future,” the report said.

The Houthis’ aggressive stance prompted the United States and the United Kingdom to carry out airstrikes on Houthi military sites inside Yemen. The United States also took the lead in an international military operation known as Operation Guardian of Prosperity, shooting down drones targeting ships and launching airstrikes to counter Houthi military capabilities. At the same time, the Houthis also launched limited missile strikes on Israeli cities, prompting Israel to respond with multiple attacks on Yemen.

Following the outbreak of the Gaza war last year, peace efforts stalled due to an escalation of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Reports in May indicated that the United States had given Saudi Arabia an informal green light to revive peace efforts with the Houthis. But the Biden administration’s efforts to support peace while deteriorating Houthi military capabilities and reducing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have made diplomatic progress difficult.

A second Trump administration will play a critical role in determining Yemen’s future. Decisions made in the coming months will not only affect Yemen’s trajectory but will also ripple across the broader Middle East, the report said.

Yemen plays an important role because of its strategic location along the Red Sea, a vital global trade route. Its proximity to U.S. interests raises concerns as the Houthis threaten U.S. assets, including military bases in Djibouti and Eritrea.

Recent Houthi attacks have put global supply chains and regional stability at risk. Backed by Iran, the Houthis are challenging the Yemeni government and neighboring countries, especially U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen poses a direct threat by planning attacks on military and diplomatic targets, recruiting extremists, and spreading anti-US propaganda that could inspire global terrorism.

U.S. policy in Yemen has been largely reactive. A bolder, more visionary strategy must draw on the art of diplomacy and address the root causes of Yemen’s ongoing unrest, as well as regional rivalries and proxy wars.

The next US administration should adopt a multi-pronged approach that focuses on two key areas: First, it is important to recognize the link between the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the conflict in Gaza. This recognition should prompt a shift toward facilitating a comprehensive solution that begins with a ceasefire in Gaza.

Second, the administration should support the establishment of a politically and militarily unified Yemeni government to strengthen the Yemeni state and enable it to effectively address various threats, including Houthi influence, both domestically and regionally. At the same time, the administration should prioritize and facilitate an inclusive peace process that engages and engages all relevant stakeholders.