<\/p>\n
Hopes for peace in Yemen became revitalized after President Abed Rabbuh Mansur Hadi announced from exile in Saudi Arabia that he would stand down and give power to a transitional government. Simultaneously, the United Nations announced that it had brokered a two-month ceasefire for Yemen, a significant move in the country\u2019s war.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The two moves have raised hopes among observers, particularly as international attention has been focused on the crisis in Ukraine following Russia\u2019s invasion in February, meaning that Yemen inherently received less attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, Yemen\u2019s the conflict has largely run its course and the warring factions, particularly the Houthi rebels, have failed to gain the upper hand on the other, suggesting that a sense of battle-weariness has arisen. And despite the United States\u2019 ostensibly looking to play a more diplomatic role in Yemen, its efforts have not been substantial enough to forward peace efforts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n President Joe Biden\u2019s administration apparently aimed to end Washington\u2019s unconditional support for the Saudi-led coalition\u2019s intervention. After all, the US\u2019 vast military backing and arms sales to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had gained scrutiny from Congress and various anti-war campaigners within the US over how it enabled the war in Yemen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thus, on February 4, 2021, Biden announced an end to \u201crelevant\u201d arms sales to Saudi Arabia, after stating in his presidential campaign that \u201cAmerica does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil.\u201d Biden also said that America must \u201cend U.S. support for Saudi Arabia\u2019s war in Yemen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Despite these strong words, the US did continue some military support to Riyadh while it did not pressure the UAE to end its involvement in the war. While Biden arguably aimed to appease domestic pressure against US involvement in Yemen\u2019s war, his administration did indicate that Washington would no longer unconditionally support Riyadh\u2019s involvement in Yemen, in the way that Biden\u2019s predecessor Donald Trump had done.<\/span><\/p>\n This however gave the Houthi rebels a boost, as it indicated the US was backing away from its involvement in Yemen, and that Saudi Arabia would consequentially be in a weaker position. The Houthis\u2019 role is important to consider, as their renewed offensive on Marib \u2013 the last Yemeni government stronghold, escalated after Biden\u2019s announcement in February 2021. This plunged Yemen into a new stage of war, as the faction subsequently expanded eastwards and southwards, thus prompting both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to contain the Houthis\u2019 advances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, as the US continued some support for the Saudi-led coalition, it sent a message to the Houthis that the US was still at war with Yemen. Moreover, the US did not pressure Saudi Arabia to end its blockade on Yemen\u2019s land, air and seaports, which worsened Yemen\u2019s humanitarian crisis and continued to act as an obstacle for peace. The Saudi-imposed blockade effectively aimed to starve out the Houthis and weaken them, such as through preventing them from profiting from fuel exports.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With these mixed messages that boosted the Houthis but allowed the Saudi-led coalition\u2019s continued involvement in Yemen, Biden\u2019s response had enabled the conflict in Yemen to continue rather than ending it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Biden administration has also dispatched senior officials to the Gulf region to help broker a peace solution for Yemen. On March 28, US special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking <\/span>visited<\/span><\/a> the Gulf region to advance peace talks for Yemen. Following the ceasefire, Lenderking claimed it came due to a transformation in the war\u2019s dynamics and the Houthis realizing they cannot win militarily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, the Biden administration\u2019s sour relations with the Houthis and weakened leverage over Saudi Arabia meant Washington had not played a substantial role in the last agreement, and the ceasefire came largely because the war had faltered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, the US may still look to play a role in Yemen, even if the war ends. The US sees Yemen through the lens of Saudi Arabia\u2019s position in the conflict, since Washington mainly prioritizes upholding its partnership with Saudi Arabia, to ensure it can maintain influence in the Gulf and control over the Bab al Mandeb, which is important for global trade. Around 10 percent of the world\u2019s trade passes through this small strait.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBrokering peace<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
US interests in Yemen<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n