Joe Biden looks to end the war in Yemen
His decision may say more about America’s troubled relationship with Saudi Arabia
FOR THE previous two American presidents, the war in Yemen seemed like an afterthought. Barack Obama backed the Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen’s government against the Houthi rebels. But it was a cynical decision meant to blunt Saudi anger over the nuclear deal he reached with Iran in 2015. Then came Donald Trump, who resisted calls to curtail American support for the war. Instead he signed huge arms deals with Saudi Arabia.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “New sheriff in town”
From the February 13th 2021 edition
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