Financial Times: A Calculated Emirati Expansion in Yemen Deters Saudi Arabia and Exposes Cracks in the Alliance
The Southern Transitional Council’s moves in Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah are not local—they are a regional message from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The British newspaper Financial Times, in an extensive strategic report, revealed that the recent military escalation carried out by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahrah does not fall within the scope of isolated local ambitions. Rather, it represents a calculated Emirati move aimed at strengthening its on-the-ground influence and pressuring Saudi Arabia on sensitive regional issues.
A Deterrence Message from Yemen to Riyadh
According to the report, Abu Dhabi has moved to entrench its military presence in the eastern governorates as a direct deterrent message to Riyadh, amid growing Emirati concern over Saudi maneuvers within the circles of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. These moves are believed to be aimed at imposing sanctions on the UAE over its role in the Sudan file.
The newspaper argues that the “attack in Yemen” came as a preemptive option by Abu Dhabi to rebalance power dynamics and demonstrate its ability to influence one of Saudi Arabia’s most sensitive dossiers.
A Cross-Border Network of Influence
Financial Times notes that the UAE, seeking to avoid any potential international isolation, is working to build a network of influence stretching from Yemeni ports through the Horn of Africa and reaching Sudan, with the aim of securing trade routes and geopolitical interests in the event it faces pressure or economic sanctions.
The Arab Coalition on the Brink of Division
The report indicates that the so-called “Arab Coalition” is now facing an unprecedented strategic rift. While Saudi Arabia seeks a unified and stable Yemen under a single central authority to facilitate its exit from the war, the UAE views empowering the Southern Transitional Council as a key instrument to ensure the continuation of its regional influence, particularly over strategic maritime corridors.
A Bone-Breaking Struggle Over Eastern and Southern Yemen
The newspaper concludes that the conflict between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi has entered a “bone-breaking” phase to determine which side will shape the political and security map of Yemen’s eastern and southern regions. According to Western observers, this trajectory threatens to place Yemen’s unity and sovereignty at serious risk amid escalating regional ambitions.
