Vice President Joe Biden welcomed the newly elected President of Yemen to the White House in 2012 as the United States hailed my homeland for its “historic and peaceful transfer of power.” Yemenis approved a roadmap to an inclusive and responsible democracy.
It was ambitious, but we were determined and we knew we had a partner in U.S. President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, who led a national dialogue that included political parties, tribal envoys, regional representatives, labor leaders, women, and youth. We drafted a constitution and planned new elections.
Yemenis have learned the hardest way about the price of a collapsed democratic transition. In 2014, Houthi-backed armed factions in Iran seized power and plunged Yemen into civil war. Houthis have attacked civilian targets, including schools, mosques, airports and parades. They have launched drones and ballistic missiles in neighboring countries and have coordinated with U.S.-designated terrorist groups such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah. Last week we learned that they are still obstructing international efforts to save the oil tanker FSO Safer and prevent an environmental catastrophe.
Unfortunately, much of Congress’s attention, especially among Democrats, has focused not on Houthis, but on Arab countries trying to restore Yemen’s legitimate government in accordance with multiple UN resolutions.
We welcome President Biden’s desire to speed up a negotiated solution, even after announcing the end of U.S. assistance for the coalition’s “offensive” operations.