Trump leaves Saudi Arabia face-to-face with Houthis, watches from the sidelines

US President Donald Trump’s departure from Saudi Arabia and refusal to provide direct military support against the Houthis marked an important step that changed the dynamics of the Yemen conflict.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump twice, asking him to join strikes against the Houthis, but the White House rejected the proposal. The US is currently limiting its involvement to intelligence support and avoiding direct involvement in the conflict.

Washington appears to be wary of taking on new large-scale military commitments in the region.

Previously, Saudi Arabia believed it could fight the Houthis on its own. However, the situation has changed dramatically. The Houthis, backed by Iran, are carrying out determined attacks against government forces. Their main objective is to take control of the entire territory of Yemen and, in particular, gain strategic access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Yemeni army, meanwhile, is retreating without putting up serious resistance.

This is also having a significant impact on energy markets. Oil prices have risen to their highest level since May. The escalation of tensions and concerns over the security of the strait are putting pressure on global oil supplies. This is creating favorable conditions for Russia and strengthening Moscow’s position.

Jala Rovshan