اقرأ المحتوى باللغة العربية
A delegation of experts from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies recently returned from a diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia, where they briefed representatives from 16 embassies to Yemen. The meetings focused on addressing the recent escalation in the Red Sea and its impact on the United Nation’s roadmap to peace, the distribution of humanitarian aid, and Yemen’s faltering economy.
During the February 7-8 visit to Riyadh, Sana’a Center experts brought expertise on a wide array of topics — from Houthi motives to local economic conditions — to meetings with ambassadors to Yemen from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They also briefed diplomatic staff from the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden. These initial exchanges aimed to lay the groundwork for comprehensive dialogues aimed at fostering regional stability and advancing the Yemeni peace process as the ongoing conflict in Gaza threatens to ignite conflict across the Middle East.
The discussions focused on regional instability and the negative ramifications of ongoing hostilities on Yemen’s economy and prospects for peace, highlighting the effects of Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and American-led coalition airstrikes on Houthi installations. Sana’a Center chairperson Maged al-Madhaji said the goal of the trip was “to explore the options available for deescalation in the Red Sea, the position of international parties on the crisis, and the threats that may lead to the collapse of peace opportunities for Yemen.”
This is the second round of such talks that the Sana’a Center has conducted in recent years; previous briefings have focused on settling Yemen’s nearly decade-long conflict. These high-level discussions between politicians and Yemeni experts are a part of the Center’s long-term commitment to peacebuilding processes, spearheaded by the Yemen International Forum, the largest international conference for Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue. The briefings are intended to complement the UN-led peace process and build an inclusive platform for stakeholders to contribute to a Yemeni vision for the future of the country.
The process will continue, as the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies remains committed to fostering constructive dialogue, promoting peace, and addressing the pressing challenges facing Yemen and the wider region as it prepares to hold the third Yemen International Forum, scheduled for later this year.
About the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies:
The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies is an independent think tank that seeks to foster change through knowledge production with a focus on Yemen and the surrounding region. Established in 2014, the Center conducts research and offers expertise on Yemeni and regional affairs, striving to promote inclusive and informed public dialogue.