Saudi-UK Plan in the Red Sea Sparks Reactions from Yemeni Resistance
SeaNews – International Service:The recent Saudi-UK initiative to train and equip Yemen’s official government coast guard in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, aimed at addressing security threats including attacks by the Yemeni Resistance and other maritime activities, has sparked widespread reactions across the region. Saudi Arabia alone has allocated $4 million to this plan.
This move, coming from a country that presents itself as a defender of the Islamic world, has drawn criticism from experts and neighboring countries. Many view it as a conflict of interest among Muslims in the region, given that the Yemeni Resistance, part of the Ansar Allah movement, has described its maritime operations as an “active solidarity with the people of Palestine.”
The Yemeni Resistance has stated that its naval actions are a response to the ongoing war and humanitarian pressures on the people of Gaza, and will continue until the crisis ends. From their perspective, Saudi efforts to counter them effectively target a group acting on humanitarian grounds.
Analysts warn that focusing solely on military deterrence and maritime security without considering the political and humanitarian motivations will not provide a sustainable solution, and may only escalate regional tensions.
Japanese Ambassador to Yemen, Yoichi Nakashima, emphasized the importance of the official government controlling its coastline but cautioned that security measures alone cannot diminish the motivation of the Yemeni Resistance.
This situation highlights that Saudi policies, rather than promoting Islamic solidarity, intensify conflicts and rivalries among Muslim groups, compounding the security and humanitarian complexities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Experts stress that the only real solution lies in addressing the root causes of political and humanitarian crises, supporting groups and actions aligned with the interests of Muslim populations and human rights, rather than relying solely on military deterrence.
