President Al-Alimi Praises Partnership with US in Counterterrorism and Deterring Iran-Backed Militias

  Riyadh

His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, received on Tuesday Mr. Steven Fagin, the United States Ambassador to Yemen.

The meeting discussed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, particularly cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism and combating organized crime, as well as the close partnership between the two sides across various domains.

Discussions also addressed the latest local developments and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern. These included the required U.S. and international support to strengthen the Yemeni state’s capabilities in confronting shared security and terrorist threats, securing international shipping lanes, and protecting vital national infrastructure serving the Yemeni people.

The President of the Presidential Leadership Council reiterated his deep appreciation for the strength of the Yemeni–American partnership. He commended the effective role of the United States in implementing the ban on Iranian arms smuggled to the Houthi militias, disrupting their sources of financing and terrorist activities, and deterring their destabilizing threats to the security and stability of Yemen and the wider region.

His Excellency underscored the importance of seizing the current moment to deter Iran and its proxies and to ensure the sustainable security of maritime corridors. He emphasized that this requires enhanced bilateral cooperation, strict enforcement of sanctions, dismantling networks of financing, smuggling, and armament, and supporting the Yemeni state in exercising full sovereignty over its entire national territory.

He further affirmed that the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab is a global matter that must be safeguarded through coordinated deterrence in partnership with national states. He stressed the importance of unifying international efforts toward eliminating the source of the threat at its roots rather than merely managing its risks.

President Al-Alimi also reviewed the Yemeni government’s efforts to normalize conditions, restore recovery, and consolidate service and economic improvements. He further highlighted plans for force integration and the unification of security and military decision-making, supported generously by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose pivotal role has been instrumental in driving this transformation at all levels.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, the Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic.