Rift Between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi Over Yemen Deepens Amid Political Cooperation Talks
Following a proposal for potential political cooperation between Saudi-backed forces and Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, divisions among Riyadh and Abu Dhabi’s allied actors have entered a new phase. These developments come amid escalating clashes on the ground between the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council and the Saudi-aligned self-declared Yemeni government.
According to media reports, Mustafa Al-Numan, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, recently stated that in order to preserve the country’s territorial integrity, there is a willingness to consider forming an alliance with Ansarullah forces. This statement was largely aimed at countering separatist movements in southern Yemen.
These remarks were met with criticism from Anwar Al-Tamimi, the official spokesperson for the Southern Transitional Council. He argued that proposing such a stance represents a fundamental shift in the ongoing conflict’s principles and considered it a threat to the existing alliances within Yemen.
In recent weeks, the Southern Transitional Council has expanded its military control over parts of eastern and southern Yemen. This move has been strongly opposed by the Saudi-backed self-declared government and its allied forces, further deepening the rift among former allies. These developments once again highlight how intra-coalition rivalries have complicated Yemen’s political and security landscape.
