[13/02/2026 05:12]

MUNICH - SABA
His Excellency, President Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) called for a new and comprehensive international approach to achieve regional stability and sustainable security for navigation and waterways, based on deterrence rather than a policy of containing terrorists.

He expressed hope that the year 2026 would be a year of international partnership in building national institutions and ending the terrorist threat.

In a panel discussion on the security of waterways, held as part of the Munich Security Conference, which commenced today, Friday, the President said that achieving sustainable international navigation security requires a different approach to the Yemeni issue, one that helps build state institutions and achieves deterrence against terrorists, rather than merely containing them or offering them incentives.

President al-Alimi warned that the Houthi terrorist militias will remain a constant threat to international and regional interests, as well as national security, even if they temporarily halt their operations in the Red Sea.

He said "Unfortunately, during the past period, terrorist activities in the Red Sea were treated as a temporary security threat; on this basis, the Prosperity Guard initiative as well as Operation Spedes were launched, but this tactical approach led to the militarization of the region instead of its stability and failed to address the root causes of the problem."

The Chairman of the PLC argued that what has happened, and what will happen in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, represents a complex geopolitical dilemma due to a set of factors, including the activities of regional countries seeking dominance, first and foremost among them the Iranian regime, in addition to the limited capabilities of the Yemeni state to deter sabotage activities and combat terrorism and the growing strength of non-state groups.

He added, "Here, we must not separate the Houthi group from al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab and ISIS, which have come to operate as a single network destabilizing security on both sides of Bab al-Mandeb."

The President emphasized that maritime security requires a broader international strategy based on respect for international legitimacy, the sovereignty and unity of states, and supporting fragile national states in order to carry out their duties, particularly in Yemen and Somalia, as well as establishing an international strategy to combat terrorism proactively and classifying terrorist groups as a long-term geopolitical threat.

His Excellency also encouraged the international community to activate regional structures in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb area through broader international partnerships to enhance regional stability, specifically the Council of Red Sea Littoral States and Task Force 152.

The Chairman of the PLC reiterated that the security of international navigation begins with working to establish security and stability in Yemen and adopting a joint deterrence strategy against armed groups to ensure that they do not carry out any cross-border terrorist operations.

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