Saudi Arabia is seeking support from Pakistan and China in a difficult situation, hoping to pressure Iran to convince Ansar Allah to cease its attacks. Danny Citrinowicz, a researcher at the Israeli National Security Studies Institute, has analyzed this situation and highlighted the challenges Saudi Arabia faces in this regard.
Analysis of the Current Situation in Yemen and Ansar Allah
Citrinowicz has clearly stated that the main problem is that Iran cannot guarantee anything on behalf of Ansar Allah that this group is unwilling to grant. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Ansar Allah, has clearly stated that as long as the siege of Yemen continues, there are no signs of the Yemenis' willingness to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia.
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This analyst has carefully pointed out that Ansar Allah, while conducting field operations, has also displayed a complex and clever diplomatic game. The group is trying to present itself as a rational and independent actor in the international arena, especially in recent discussions with representatives of the U.S. government.
Saudi Arabia's Challenges and Strategic Consequences
Citrinowicz has emphasized that for the U.S. government, which currently has no desire to enter a new military conflict in Yemen, accepting the signals and messages from Ansar Allah makes sense. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is seeking external pressure leverage, while its allies are reluctant to enter the war instead, and Iran also lacks the necessary tools to issue a ceasefire order to Yemeni forces.
As the conflicts prolong and economic and security costs rise, pressure on Saudi officials to return to the negotiating table and accept a ceasefire will significantly increase. Given that the main condition of Ansar Allah for ending the conflicts is the complete lifting of the siege without offering tangible concessions, this agreement in Riyadh will be viewed not only as a diplomatic compression but also as a defeat and surrender to Yemen's conditions. Such a situation will pose a serious challenge to Saudi Arabia's regional power.
Overall, this analysis concludes that Saudi Arabia's efforts to garner support from Pakistan and China to pressure Iran and Ansar Allah, due to its inability to control the situation, may have the opposite effect and increase the diplomatic and military complexities in the region.
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