While the agreement is short on details, President Trump should continue to work toward a clearer resolution of the Red Sea crisis, suggested and analysis published by The National Interest, an award-winning online publication.
Alexander Langlois, the author of the analysis, who us a foreign policy analyst and Contributing Fellow at Defense Priorities, suggested that what he described “The shocking announcement” immediately raised many questions, not limited to whether the deal includes all Red Sea shipping and Israel—the latter of which the Houthis continue to strike. Yet, even with limited details and conflicting reports about the substance of the agreement, the decision to end fighting with the Houthi rebels marks a crucial moment for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The deal comes after reports hinted at a renewed ground war in Yemen, backed by U.S. material support for the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) of Yemen.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the United Arab Emirates approached Trump administration officials with a plan, hoping to take advantage of the U.S. air campaign by conducting a parallel ground operation into Houthi rebels control territory. From their perspective, the U.S. air campaign could open the door for pro-government groups against weakened Houthi rebels
That thinking is flawed because it discounts similar failed approaches and the risks of renewed fighting. Consequently, the Trump administration was wise to cut a deal with the Houthis Sanaa, especially after the failure of the renewed U.S. operation against them that began in mid-March.
While the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) claims over 1,000 strikes on supposed Houthi positions, it refused to share many details about the strikes, including casualty numbers and type, weapons used, and enemy assets destroyed.
The Trump administration—known for its boisterous efforts to highlight policy victories—claims success but refuses to share much evidence, hardly promoting confidence in such statements.
Alexander Langlois analysis concluded “Whether Washington’s new deal with the Houthis signals better days remains to be seen, but it could be a step towards broader peace if the right moves are made to achieve it. Regardless, if Trump is truly a president of peace and a dealmaker, he will recognize that one deal can finally quiet the Middle East should he have the political bravery to pursue it.