Washington Sides with Riyadh in the Most Dangerous Gulf Crisis: Explicit U.S. Criticism of Emirati Escalation in Yemen
CSIS: The Saudi–Emirati Conflict Has Moved Beyond Tactical Disputes and Threatens Regional Stability
NYN | Reports and Analyses
An analysis issued by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) described the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen as the most dangerous public crisis the Gulf Cooperation Council has witnessed in years, signaling an unprecedented fragmentation within regional alliances.
An Unusual American Stance
Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney stated that Washington views the UAE’s motives behind the recent military escalation in Yemen as unclear and puzzling, while considering the Saudi response to be more understandable from the perspective of security and economic interests.
Warning of the Detonation of a Regional Conflict
Ratney explained, in the analysis published by the center, that the military moves carried out by the Southern Transitional Council with full Emirati backing risk fueling a broader regional conflict without a clear strategic justification. He warned of their potential repercussions for the security of the Gulf and the Red Sea.
A Breach of Saudi Arabia’s Stability-Oriented Approach
The former U.S. diplomat pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s approach—based on investment and economic stability in the region—has been directly undermined as a result of the recent Emirati escalation along the Saudi border in the governorates of Hadramawt and al-Mahra.
Disappointment in Riyadh and Hints of Isolation
The analysis revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been deeply disappointed by Abu Dhabi’s behavior, viewing the bypassing of the existing alliance between the two countries in Yemen as a direct threat to prior strategic understandings.
Ratney also hinted at Washington’s implicit acceptance of the possibility of isolating the UAE within the Gulf, invoking the experience of the isolation imposed on Qatar in 2017 following its clash with Saudi Arabia—a political message reflecting a notable shift in the U.S. position.
