Foreign Policy: The Saudi–UAE Conflict in Yemen Goes Beyond War and Imposes a New Regional Alignment
An American magazine warns that the rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi could turn into a political confrontation that reshapes the region’s balance of power
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The American magazine Foreign Policy argues that the escalating tension between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is no longer confined to the Yemeni arena, but has evolved into a broader conflict affecting the structure of Gulf and regional alliances and imposing a new reality on the countries of the region.
Yemen as a Broader Arena of Confrontation
The magazine noted that what is unfolding between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in Yemen goes beyond a routine disagreement within the Gulf Cooperation Council, taking on the character of a strategic confrontation in which Saudi Arabia seeks to undermine the network of alliances that the UAE has built over recent years at both the Gulf and regional levels.
Saudi Moves to Isolate Abu Dhabi
Foreign Policy pointed out that Saudi expansion of what it described as a “campaign to boycott the UAE” has become increasingly evident, especially following the surprise visit by the Saudi foreign minister to Cairo, which—according to the magazine—resulted in explicit Egyptian support for the Saudi position.
Reshaping the Regional Order
According to the magazine, this dramatic shift in the regional order that Riyadh is seeking to impose could lead to a weakening of Emirati influence, turning Abu Dhabi into a less impactful regional player after losing the levers that had granted it significant political weight in recent years.
An Emerging Regional Alignment
Foreign Policy concluded that the crystallization of the split between the two heads of the Saudi–Emirati alliance in Yemen is likely to expand regionally, amid Saudi efforts to impose a new equation that forces countries in the region to align with one side or the other—heralding a new phase of political polarization in the Middle East.
