Former U.S. Envoy Says Lasting Yemen Peace Requires Regional Plan

Washington — Former U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking has warned that achieving sustainable peace in Yemen will be impossible without a joint plan among key regional powers, stressing that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman are essential actors in any lasting settlement.

Speaking at a panel hosted by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies and the Arab Center Washington DC, Lenderking said U.S. efforts during his tenure focused on coordinating with these states alongside the UN envoy. “Reaching a durable peace becomes far more difficult in the absence of a shared plan among them,” he noted.

Lenderking cautioned that the Houthis could potentially seize control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a scenario he described as highly concerning due to its implications for global shipping, Saudi Arabia, regional economies, and international trade. He added that Washington is not currently working actively to prevent such an outcome.

The former envoy criticized the current administration’s diminished focus on Yemen, saying the issue has “fallen off Washington’s radar” after the end of U.S. military operations against the Houthis. He revealed that his parting message to officials before leaving the State Department in April was: “Do not neglect Yemen,” warning of the security risks tied to reduced engagement.

Lenderking also pointed to growing rifts between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which he said have become sharper and more violent since December, complicating the conflict further. During his tenure, Washington sought to bring Saudi and Emirati officials together in joint meetings to narrow differences over Yemen.

He added that the Houthis have expanded regional ties harmful to U.S. and Gulf interests, citing their growing links with Somalia’s al-Shabaab movement, the presence of Yemeni fighters in other regional conflicts, and continued deployment of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard elements in Sanaa.