[25/08/2026 06:17]

WASHINGTON – SABA
Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to the United States Jamila Ali Raja said that the government is now better positioned than ever to confront the threat posed by the Houthi terrorist militia.

She stressed that a strong and stable Yemen would be a partner to the United States in safeguarding Red Sea security and containing Iranian influence, rather than a burden.

In an opinion article published by The Wall Street Journal under the title “A Strong Yemen Can Defeat the Houthi Threat,” Raja said the growing strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait places Yemen’s security at the heart of international economic and security interests.

She warned that the Houthi threat is no longer a purely domestic Yemeni issue, as the militia has evolved into a persistent threat to one of the world’s most important arteries for global trade and energy.

She explained that Houthi attacks on maritime shipping are forcing shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, driving up insurance and transportation costs, with the consequences of Houthi terrorism ultimately reaching American consumers and the global economy.

Ambassador Raja also highlighted the Houthi militia’s dismal record of recruiting children, obstructing vaccination campaigns, laying landmines, and detaining United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and diplomatic mission staff, in addition to targeting commercial vessels and detaining civilian seafarers.

She said the Houthis’ recent escalation against Marib, Hadramout, Mokha and Shabwa comes amid the militia’s concerns over the growing capabilities of the Yemeni armed forces, their success in unifying the various fronts, and their efforts to divert attention from the worsening living conditions in areas under Houthi control.

Raja rejected the narrative that portrays Yemen as a near-failed state, saying, “That is not the Yemen we know today.”

In this regard, she pointed to steps taken by the government to achieve financial stability, relocate the banking system to Aden, unify the money-transfer network, strengthen oversight of import financing, and consolidate and enhance intelligence institutions, including the establishment of a specialized counterterrorism agency.

She noted that Yemen, along with 13 other countries, participated in announcing the establishment of a multinational maritime defense coalition.

She stressed that the government is not asking others to take over its defense responsibilities, but rather to join it in the mission of protecting Yemen’s security, the region, and international maritime routes.

Raja added that the decline of Iran’s regional influence presents an opportunity to contain and defeat Tehran’s proxy in Yemen.

She emphasized that the Yemeni government has the strategic position and capabilities required to undertake this mission, but needs international partnership, particularly from the United States.

She said US support for the Yemeni Coast Guard has contributed to the interception of Iranian weapons shipments bound for the Houthis, emphasizing that strengthening Yemen’s state institutions directly serves the security of the Red Sea and US interests.

Ambassador Raja reaffirmed that Yemen’s objective is to build a cohesive and strong state capable of relying on itself.

She concluded: “A stable Yemen, free from the Houthi threat, can be a strong and reliable partner to the United States,” adding that the stability of the Middle East remains closely linked to the stability of Yemen.

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