Lenderking Back in Washington after 7-Day Mideast Tour
Arab World
Washington – Muath Alamri
Washington has reaffirmed that communication is ongoing with all warring parties in Yemen with the aim of pressing for a settlement that ends the conflict in the war-torn country. This coincided with the Biden administration reviewing chances for stepping up military equipment in the region and boosting cooperation with Saudi Arabia by sharing drones, THAAD systems and training with the kingdom. US State Department Spokesperson, in a press briefing on March 31, reaffirmed that the US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking’s third tour to the Middle East was highlighted by fruitful meetings with senior officials in Muscat and Riyadh. “In Muscat he had productive meetings with senior officials in coordination with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths,” said Price, responding to a question by Asharq Al-Awsat. “The US special envoy’s discussions were and continue to be focused on joint international efforts to promote a lasting ceasefire, political talks, and an inclusive peace agreement, along with our effort to address the country’s dire humanitarian crisis,” he added. “To that end, we have been very encouraged that fuel ships continue to offload at Hodeidah Port, and we welcome Saudi Arabia’s announcement yesterday to provide over $400 million, $422 million, in support to fuel products in Yemen,” affirmed Price. “In terms of Lenderking’s meetings in the region, he met with Omani, with Saudi, with Yemeni senior government officials, and as I said before, with Griffiths during this trip.” “He and the UN special envoy continue to work side-by-side, and both, of course, are committed to bringing about a ceasefire and an end to this devastating conflict in the country of Yemen, which is now home to the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe,” asserted Price. When asked about the envoy’s meeting with the Houthis, Price gave no direct answer. Instead, he stressed that Lenderking met with a number of Yemenis, and that his discussions were still focused on joint international efforts to promote a permanent ceasefire and pave the way for political talks in Yemen. More so, the Wall Street Journal published a report revealing that US President Joe Biden ordered the Pentagon to begin removing some military capabilities and forces from the Gulf region with the aim of realigning the US global military footprint away from the Mideast. The report revealed that the US had removed at least three Patriot antimissile batteries from the Gulf region. “By far that’s worse than any other period since before the beginning of the conflict,” a US official said, referring to the war inside Yemen. Iran has denied it controls the Houthis or sponsors attacks through other groups. As the US moves toward reducing its own military capabilities there, the Pentagon in recent weeks assembled a “tiger team”—an ad hoc group of defense policy and military experts—to find ways to help the oil-rich kingdom protect its facilities and oil installations, US officials said. Options on the table include sales of specific, defensive weapons, such as missile interceptors; expanded intelligence-sharing; additional training; and military-to-military exchange programs, officials said.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2895696/lenderking-back-washington-after-7-day-mideast-tour
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