During a meeting held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen reiterated its deep appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their sincere and unwavering fraternal stances towards the Yemeni people and their legitimate leadership.
The Council commended the Kingdom's sincere efforts to support peace initiatives, enhance security and stability, and strengthen the institutions of the Yemeni state. The Council also expressed its appreciation for the Kingdom's generous humanitarian and development assistance aimed at alleviating the human suffering caused by the Houthi coup and supporting the Yemeni economy in the face of formidable challenges.
Historical context and pivotal role of the Kingdom
This stance comes within the context of the ongoing support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Yemen since the outbreak of the crisis following the Houthi militia's coup against the legitimate authority in Sana'a in 2014. In March 2015, the Kingdom responded to the request of the legitimate Yemeni government and led an Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen, with the aim of restoring state institutions and protecting the Yemeni people from Houthi attacks backed by Iran. Since then, Saudi support has not been limited to the military aspect, but has extended to include broad political, economic, and humanitarian tracks. Riyadh has hosted numerous rounds of Yemeni dialogue and consultations, including those that led to the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022, a step aimed at unifying the ranks against the coup and pushing towards a comprehensive political solution.
The importance of support and its impact on various levels
Saudi support is of paramount strategic importance on multiple levels. Domestically , it represents a lifeline for the Yemeni government, enabling it to perform its essential functions in liberated areas, such as paying employee salaries, providing basic services like electricity and water, and supporting the stability of the national currency through financial deposits and grants. Regionally , the Saudi position is a cornerstone in maintaining the security and stability of the Arabian Peninsula and the wider region by countering the Iranian expansionist project that threatens the security of international waterways, particularly the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Internationally , Saudi efforts complement UN and international endeavors aimed at ending the conflict in Yemen, which has caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Saudi support is seen as a crucial factor in preventing the complete collapse of the Yemeni state and preserving the opportunity for a sustainable political settlement that guarantees Yemen's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The meeting, held on Friday, discussed the latest local developments and the progress made on the path to recovery and normalization of the situation in the interim capital Aden and the liberated governorates, in addition to the efforts of the local authorities and security and military agencies to impose security and stability.
