President Al-Alimi Reaffirms Commitment to Peace Based on State Sovereignty, Not Concessions to Coup Militias

  New York

His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, called for a fundamentally different international approach to the policy of “containment” that has characterized past dealings with the threat posed by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militias.

In a panel discussion hosted by the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, attended by Council member Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi, the President stressed that the current stage requires a “radical change in approach, moving from managing the conflict to the strength-for-peace stage.”

He underscored the need for a peace founded on the strength and sovereignty of the state, rather than concessions to the coup militias. 

The President noted that the containment policy adopted by the international community had clearly failed to deter the Houthis.

President Al-Alimi recalled that successive governments had offered concessions in pursuit of a political solution, only to be met with intransigence and rejection by the militias. As a result, he said, the international community now recognizes more than ever that the Houthis pose an ongoing global threat.

The President affirmed that appeasement policies had not brought peace but rather entrenched the war. He pointed out that the militias exploited time and resources to expand their influence and military arsenal, even as government forces were only three kilometers from the ports of Hodeidah.

He warned that prolonging the current situation undermines trust in multilateral institutions and fuels narratives of chaos that extremist groups exploit.

President Al-Alimi stressed that the Houthis are not merely a local actor but an advanced arm of the Iranian regime, with threats extending beyond Yemen to the region and the wider world. 

He added that this threat cannot be separated from Iran’s expansionist project aimed at blackmailing the region, controlling strategic waterways, and jeopardizing global energy security.

Moreover, he pointed out that Iran has turned the region into a theater of multi-faceted terrorism, involving the Houthis, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab, all of whom exploit fragile state structures.

The President expressed appreciation for the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which he said prevented the complete collapse of the state. “Experience has proven that Yemen’s stability would not have been possible without this support,” he added.

He also praised the advanced stance of U.S. President Donald Trump toward the Houthi militias, expressing his hope for the resumption of American assistance. The suspension of which has had a profound impact on millions of people and on the overall image of the United States.

“Supporting Yemen today is not a political courtesy, but a direct investment in the security of the region and the world,” the President stated.

President Al-Alimi also touched on the immense responsibilities and challenges facing the Yemeni government, including the worsening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Houthi attacks on oil facilities and commercial shipping. He noted that around 20 million Yemenis live below the poverty line, with nearly 5 million displaced.