Lenderking Returns to Washington after Meeting ‘Dead End’ on Yemen Crisis
SMA NEWS – WASHINGTON
US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, concluded his trip to Riyadh and will go back to Washington after having met a “dead end” on the war-torn country’s crisis as the Iran-backed Houthi militias insist on rejecting truce calls and solidifying their insurgency on all levels.
While Lenderking reiterated the need for intensifying humanitarian aid to embattled Yemen, observers ruled out Houthis engaging in political negotiations, given that the militias are under no real pressure to do so.
For observers, the international community is not exerting sufficient pressure on the Houthis to bring them to the table of negotiations, especially with the new US administration in Washington removing its terrorism listing of the militias.
Lenderking had met in Riyadh with senior officials of the Yemeni and Saudi governments, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the international community, and the office of the UN Special Envoy, according to a statement by the US State Department.
“During this trip, Lenderking called for an end to the stalemated fighting in Marib and across Yemen, which have only increased the suffering of the Yemeni people,” it added.
“He expressed concern that the Houthis continue to refuse to engage meaningfully on a ceasefire and political talks and stressed that only through a durable agreement between the Yemeni parties can the dire humanitarian crisis in the country be reversed,” it continued.
As for rising tensions between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council, Lenderking called on both parties to work towards Yemen’s stability.
“During his meetings, Lenderking called for the Republic of Yemen Government and Southern Transitional Council to come together to improve services and stabilize the economy.”
“A critical first step is ensuring the conditions necessary for the return of the cabinet to Aden. He also discussed immediate actions that must be taken to ease the humanitarian and economic crisis, including increasing fuel imports, ending manipulation of fuel and prices, and mobilizing additional economic and humanitarian aid for the country,” said the statement.
