اقرأ المحتوى باللغة العربية
Are the peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) likely to establish a framework that will allow Yemeni parties to create a durable settlement among themselves? Or has Riyadh created a fatally flawed process that concedes too much ground to the Houthis from the start, ensuring that they dominate future Yemeni talks as the stronger party?
Those critical questions were debated in a panel discussion organized on August 19 by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, featuring Sana’a Center Chairperson Maged al-Madhaji and Badr al-Qahtani, the Gulf desk editor in London for Saudi-owned pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, and moderated by prominent Saudi journalist Eman al-Hamoud.
“Yemen and Saudi Arabia have a common interest in the restoration of the republican system of Yemen, which plays an important role in the security architecture of the region. But this can only be done by curbing the political and military power of the Houthis,” Al-Madhaji said at the start of the discussion, titled “Saudi-Yemeni Perspectives on the Political Settlement in Yemen.
“It doesn’t seem that the Saudi version of the roadmap will lead to the reintegration of the Houthis into the peace process,” he added.
The Saudi-Houthi talks – which have now been put on hold due to the Gaza conflict and Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping – are meant to lead to a normalization of ties between Riyadh and the Houthi authorities, followed by a specific timetable, or roadmap, for peace talks between the Houthis and other Yemeni parties grouped together as part of the internationally recognized government based in Aden.
Al-Madhaji argued that the current process formalizes the current imbalance of power in Yemen, established through Houthi actions such as blockading oil and gas exports from southern ports, which began in late 2022, rather than ensuring all parties are on an equal footing.
He also pointed to Saudi Arabia pressuring the government and its affiliated central bank in Aden to drop regulatory measures taken against banks operating in Sana’a as another example of tipping the scales in favor of the Houthis.
“We need peace, but not this version. What this one means is one group taking all the power, so the crisis will continue,” Al-Madhaji said.
Al-Qahtani responded that while Saudi Arabia is aware of its obligations to its Yemeni allies, it is looking at the bigger picture of ensuring Yemeni and regional stability without favoring one side over another.
“There is no Saudi will to hand Yemen over to the Houthis. That is not accurate and would not be in the interests of Saudi Arabia or the region,” he said. “But a regional mediator does not have the luxury of the good option… We need to be realistic. At the end of the day, this is not a charity – it’s international relations in which there are no permanent friendships or animosities. It’s interests that govern relationships.”
Al-Qahtani rejected accusations that the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), formed in Riyadh two years ago, was a tool of Saudi Arabia, saying that it emerged from a Gulf Cooperation Council initiative aiming to deescalation the conflict. He also urged patience regarding the roadmap, pointing out that so far “there are no details of what the peace process will look like.”
“Saudi Arabia is an important neighbor with plans for its economy. It doesn’t want to get to 2030 (the nominal deadline for finishing key tourism, residential, and sports projects) with a neighbor suffering internal problems, which will affect the situation in the kingdom and its neighbors,” he said, referring to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform plan.
“Ending the crisis in Yemen is a high priority for Saudi foreign policy. If it wanted a quick exit, Saudi Arabia could have said, ‘Thank you, we’ll reach an agreement with whoever the victor is.’ But there is a responsibility and ethics.”