Putin’s meeting with the head of Yemen: what Kremlin really wants
The Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi, visited russia, where he met with vladimir putin. This took place amid kremlin’s growing ties with the main enemies of Yemen’s government — the Ansar Allah group (Houthis).
▫️ russia may have recruited Yemenis to fight in the war against Ukraine in cooperation with the Houthis, and according to several Western media outlets, moscow has considered selling weapons to Ansar Allah. Previously, the Center identified russian Arabic-language accounts expressing support for Houthi actions.
For moscow, this meeting may primarily serve as a public relations effort aimed at persuading Gulf monarchies — which have a history of conflict with the Houthis — of russia’s supposed neutrality. A deepened relationship with Ansar Allah could strain russia’s ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, so kremlin may be trying to present itself as a neutral mediator.
However, despite its official rhetoric about promoting stability, kremlin primarily prioritizes its own interests in its hybrid war against Western influence. This often undermines not only the potential for political settlement in Yemen but also the broader stability of the region.
