Saudi Arabia: UAE's actions in Yemen are a threat to national security
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its deep regret and profound concern regarding the recent actions of the sisterly United Arab Emirates, which involved pressuring the Southern Transitional Council forces and pushing them to conduct military operations near the Kingdom's southern border, specifically in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra. The Kingdom described these actions as an unjustified escalation and a direct threat to Saudi national security, as well as an undermining of security and stability in the Republic of Yemen and the region as a whole.
Dimensions of the security threat and violation of the foundations of the alliance
In its statement, the Kingdom indicated that these actions are extremely dangerous and completely inconsistent with the foundations and principles upon which the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen was established. The Coalition was founded with the aim of restoring the Yemeni state and achieving security and stability, not to create new hotspots of tension or support armed factions outside the framework of legitimacy to threaten neighboring countries. Riyadh affirmed that the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra represent a strategic and security depth for the Kingdom, and that any attempt to destabilize them constitutes a direct attack on the security of Saudi borders.
In this context, the Kingdom stressed that its national security is a “red line” that is not open to compromise, and that it will not hesitate to take all necessary and decisive steps and measures to confront and neutralize any threat, in order to preserve its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens.
The Southern issue and a comprehensive political solution
In a related development, the Kingdom reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Yemen’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, expressing its full support for the Presidential Leadership Council headed by His Excellency President Rashad al-Alimi and the legitimate Yemeni government. Regarding the “Southern Issue,” the Kingdom reiterated its firm position that it is a just cause with deep historical and social dimensions, but stressed that the only way to address it is through constructive political dialogue.
She explained that the solution must be through negotiations within the framework of a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, with the participation of all Yemeni factions, including the Southern Transitional Council, away from the language of weapons and imposing a military fait accompli, which is the approach that the Kingdom sought to establish through the Riyadh Agreement and the Yemeni-Yemeni consultations.
A call to prioritize wisdom and the future of relations
The Saudi position included an emphasis on the importance of the UAE responding to the Republic of Yemen's request to end its unwanted military presence and cease all financial and military support to any parties outside the framework of the state. The Kingdom expressed its hope that wisdom would prevail and that the principles of brotherhood and good neighborliness, which have always characterized relations among the Gulf Cooperation Council states, would be upheld.
The Kingdom concluded by emphasizing its keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with the UAE, calling for joint action towards everything that would enhance the prosperity and stability of the countries of the region, and spare Yemen and the region from further side conflicts that only serve the enemies of the Arab nation.
