[06/01/2026 01:56]

BOULOS - SABA
His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, received today, Tuesday, the Chief Advisor to the American President for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos and the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen Steven Fagin.

The conversations covered a range of topical issues including Yemeni-American bilateral relations, partnership in fighting terrorism and bettering the Iranian regime backed terrorist Houthi militias, the needed American role in backing the government's reforms and the recent events and developments on the Yemeni national arena.

The President celebrated Yemeni-American partnership in different fields, greatly valued the American steadfast support for the Yemeni internationally recognized government and leadership at international stages.

He also deeply appreciated the United States' humanitarian interventions over the previous years, saying that he is looking forward to see these intervention and to sustain the government's efforts aimed to improve services.

The Chairman of the PLC highlighted the efforts of the United States in undermining the capabilities of the Houthi militias and Iran's influence in Yemen and the region, including intercepting Iranian arms and drug shipments, and designating the Houthi militias as a terrorist organization, emphasizing that these steps were pivotal in deterring the intertwined threats to regional security, maritime routes, and common interests.

His Excellency the President also touched upon recent local developments against the backdrop of unilateral moves by the Transitional Council in the Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah governorates, which nearly opened a new platform of threat to security and the stability of Yemen and the region.

The President explained that the decision to end the UAE military presence was not a hasty or hostile decision, but was necessitated by the requirements of protecting the de-escalation efforts, the legal status of the state, its unity, and the safety of its territories.

He emphasized that the sovereign decisions that were taken, including the declaration of a state of emergency, were based on clear constitutional powers, aimed at protecting civilians and preventing the militarization of political life.

The President pointed out that these measures not only protected civilians and the legal status of the state, but also saved the gains of the southern cause itself, which was threatened with burying in the chaos of weapons and trying to impose a fait accompli.

In this context, the Chairman of the PLC touched on the ongoing arrangements to launch an inclusive Southern Dialogue Conference to resolve the southern issue, break the monopoly of its representation, and return it to the real stakeholders, within the framework of the state, and not outside its legitimate institutions.

For his part, Mr. Boulos affirmed Washington's strong commitment to supporting Yemen, its unity, stability, and territorial integrity, and the serious work to resume U.S. assistance programs provided to the Yemeni people.

He also stated that the United States is keen to continue close cooperation with the Yemeni government in areas of combating terrorism, overthrowing the Iranian-backed coup, protecting waterways, supporting comprehensive reforms and ongoing plans to unify security and military decision-making and integrate all forces under the umbrella of the Ministries of Defense and Interior.

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