President of the Presidential Leadership Council Receives Senior Adviser to the U.S. President

  Riyadh

His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, today Tuesday, received Mr. Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to the President of the United States for Arab and African Affairs, along with Mr. Steven Fagin, the U.S. Ambassador to Yemen.

The meeting reviewed the distinguished bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and discussed the latest developments on the national scene, in addition to the U.S. support required for government reform efforts. It also addressed ongoing coordination and partnership in counterterrorism, deterring the Houthi militias backed by the Iranian regime, and confronting terrorist organizations cooperating with them.

During the meeting, President Al-Alimi expressed his deep appreciation for the partnership with the United States at all levels and for its continued steadfast support for constitutional legitimacy in various international forums. He stressed that the unity of the international community in support of the Yemeni people and their aspirations for security, stability, and peace has been a decisive factor in maintaining the cohesion of the state, a member of the United Nations.

The President also commended U.S. humanitarian interventions over the past years and voiced his aspiration for the resumption of these efforts, as well as for strengthening government initiatives in the service, development, and humanitarian sectors.

President Al-Alimi praised U.S. efforts to undermine the capabilities of the Houthi militias and Iran’s influence in Yemen and the region, including intercepting Iranian weapons and drug shipments and designating the Houthi militias as a terrorist organization. He affirmed that these steps were pivotal in deterring interconnected threats to regional security, maritime corridors, and shared interests.

The President further addressed recent local developments resulting from unilateral moves by the Southern Transitional Council in the governorates of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. He warned that these actions brought Yemen’s security and stability, and that of the wider region, to the brink of a new threat, particularly along energy supply lines and international navigation routes.

He clarified that the decision to end the Emirati military presence was neither impulsive nor hostile, but rather dictated by the requirements of protecting de-escalation efforts, the legal status of the state, its unity, and the integrity of its territory.

President Al-Alimi lauded the fraternal relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which played a decisive role in de-escalation, securing the handover of military camps, and protecting civilians. He emphasized that the sovereign decisions taken, including the declaration of a state of emergency, were based on clear constitutional authorities aimed at safeguarding civilians and preventing the militarization of political life.

His Excellency noted that these measures not only protected civilians and the legal standing of the state, but also preserved the gains of the Southern cause itself, which had been at risk of being buried in the chaos of weapons and attempts to impose a fait accompli.

In this context, the President referred to ongoing arrangements to launch an inclusive Southern Dialogue Conference aimed at resolving the Southern issue. He said the conference seeks to break the monopoly over its representation and return it to its genuine stakeholders within the framework of the state and its legitimate institutions.

For his part, the U.S. President’s adviser affirmed Washington’s strong commitment to supporting Yemen, its unity, stability, and territorial integrity, and to working seriously toward the resumption of U.S. assistance programs for the Yemeni people.

He also stressed the United States’ keenness to continue close cooperation with the Yemeni government in counterterrorism and efforts to end the Iran-backed coup. He further underscored U.S. support for protecting maritime waterways, advancing comprehensive reforms, and implementing plans to unify security and military decision-making, including integrating all forces under the Ministries of Defense and Interior.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic.