Foreign relations of Yemen

Yemen
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Foreign relations

The foreign relations of Yemen are the relationships and policies that Yemen maintains with other countries. It is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Yemen participates in the nonaligned movement. The Republic of Yemen accepted responsibility for all treaties and debts of its predecessors, the YAR and the PDRY. Additionally, Yemen has acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has stressed the need to render the Middle East region free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

History

North Yemen

The geography and ruling Imams of North Yemen kept the country isolated from foreign influence before 1962.[1] During the 1920s, the government of Yemen forged relations with the Italian government under Mussolini, which led to the conclusion of an Italian-Yemeni friendship treaty on September 2, 1926.[2] This gave the Sana'a government diplomatic support vis-a-vis the Saudi government, which had aggressive designs on Yemeni territory. The country's relations with Saudi Arabia were defined by the Treaty of Taif[3] in 1934 which delineated the northernmost part of the border between the two kingdoms and set the framework for commerce and other interactions. The Taif Agreement has been renewed periodically in 20-year increments, and its validity was reaffirmed in 1995. Relations with the British colonial authorities in Aden and the south were usually tense.

The Soviet and Communist Chinese Aid Missions established in 1958 and 1959 were the first important non-Muslim presence in North Yemen. Following the September 1962 revolution, the Yemen Arab Republic became closely allied with and heavily dependent upon Egypt.[4] Saudi Arabia aided the royalists in their attempt to defeat the republicans and did not recognize the Yemen Arab Republic until 1970. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia provided Yemen substantial budgetary and project support. At the same time, Saudi Arabia maintained direct contact with Yemeni tribes, which sometimes strained its official relations with the Yemeni government. Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis found employment in Saudi Arabia during the late 1970s and 1980s.

Saleh's foreign policy as the leader of North Yemen was characterized by the principles of "positive neutrality" and Arab unity. Under Saleh, Yemen cultivated close ties with Saudi Arabia and other pro-West states in the region. He also purchased military equipment from the United States and expanded economic relations with the West. At the same time, Saleh also tried to maintain friendly relations with the then-Soviet Union (which broke apart in 1991). In October 1984, he renewed the treaty of Friendship and Cooperation that was originally signed in 1964 by San'a and Moscow.[5]

In February 1989, North Yemen joined Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt informing the Arab Cooperation Council (ACC), an organization created partly in response to the founding of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and intended to foster closer economic cooperation and integration among its members.[6] After unification, the Republic of Yemen was accepted as a member of the ACC in place of its YAR predecessor. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, the ACC has remained inactive.

South Yemen

British authorities left South Yemen in November 1967 in the wake of an intense terrorist campaign. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, the successor to British colonial rule, had diplomatic relations with many nations, but its major links were with the Soviet Union and other Communist countries. Relations between it and the conservative Arab states of the Arabian Peninsula were strained. There were military clashes with Saudi Arabia in 1969 and 1973, and the PDRY provided active support for the Dhofar Rebellion against the Sultanate of Oman. The PDRY was the only Arab state to vote against admitting new Arab states from the Persian Gulf area to the United Nations and the Arab League. The PDRY provided sanctuary and material support to various international terrorist groups.

Unified Yemen

The Persian Gulf crisis dramatically affected Yemen's foreign relations. As a member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for 1990 and 1991, Yemen abstained on a number of UNSC resolutions concerning Iraq and Kuwait and voted against the "use of force resolution". Western and Persian Gulf Arab states reacted by curtailing or canceling aid programs and diplomatic contacts. At least 850,000 Yemenis returned from Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf.

After the liberation of Kuwait, Yemen continued to maintain high-level contacts with Iraq. This hampered its efforts to rejoin the Arab mainstream and to mend fences with its immediate neighbors. In 1993, Yemen launched an unsuccessful diplomatic offensive to restore relations with its Persian Gulf neighbors. Some of its aggrieved neighbors actively aided the south during the 1994 civil war. Since the end of that conflict, tangible progress has been made on the diplomatic front in restoring normal relations with Yemen's neighbors. The Omani-Yemeni border has been officially demarcated. In the summer of 2000, Yemen and Saudi Arabia signed an International Border Treaty settling a 50-year-old dispute over the location of the border between the two countries. Yemen settled its dispute with Eritrea over the Hanish Islands in 1998.

By country

Bangladesh

Further information: Islam in Bangladesh

It was here that a person named Shah Jalal spread Islam and introduced the religion to the people of Bangladesh back in 1303.

Djibouti

Relations between Yemen and Djibouti are good, and cooperation takes place on many levels.[7] A causeway between the two countries has been proposed.[8]

Eritrea

In 1995, there was a conflict between Yemen and Eritrea over the Hanish islands. Eritrea has half, while Yemen has half.

Holy See

The Holy See and Yemen established diplomatic relations in 1998.[9]

India

India has an embassy in Sana'a, while Yemen has an embassy in New Delhi.

Iran

Main article: Iran-Yemen relations

Following the first two decades of the Islamic Revolution, ties between Tehran and Sana'a were never strong, but in recent years the two countries have attempted to settle their differences.[10] One sign of this came on December 2, 2003, when the Yemeni foreign ministry announced that "Yemen welcomes Iran's request to participate in the Arab League as an observer member."[11]

However, relations have also been tense in recent years, particularly for the alleged Iranian support to Houthi rebels in Yemen, as part of the Shia insurgency in Yemen.[12]

Israel

Yemen does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and relations between the two countries are very tense. People with an Israeli passport or any passport with an Israeli stamp cannot enter Yemen, and Yemen is defined as an enemy state by Israeli law.

Malaysia

Malaysia has an embassy in Sana'a,[13] and Yemen has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[14]

Oman

Oman and Yemen are generally enjoying good relations. The two countries share a border. Both Oman and Yemen were part of the Persian Empire, and later of Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates. Yemen has an embassy in Muscat. Oman is represented in Yemen through its embassy in Sana'a.

Pakistan

Pakistan has an embassy in Sana'a. Many Pakistani worked in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia

Although similar in dialect, ethnicity and religion, diplomatic relations between the two countries have been hostile owing to various political and border disputes.[15]

Singapore

Singapore and Yemen generally have solid, good relations. Singapore is one of Yemen's biggest trading partners outside the Gulf States

Somalia

Although relations between the modern-day territories of Somalia and Yemen stretch back to antiquity, the two countries formally established diplomatic ties on December 18, 1960. Both nations are also members of the Arab League.

Following the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia in the 1990s, the Yemeni authorities maintained relations with Somalia's newly established Transitional National Government and its successor the Transitional Federal Government.[16] The subsequent establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia in August 2012 was also welcomed by the Yemeni authorities, who re-affirmed Yemen's continued support for Somalia's government, its territorial integrity and sovereignty.[17]

Additionally, Somalia maintains an embassy in Yemen, with the diplomatic mission led by Ambassador Ismail Qassim Naji.[18] Yemen also has an embassy in Mogadishu.[19]

South Korea

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations: August 22, 1985 (Former North Yemen), May 17, 1990 (Former South Yemen) and Number of Koreans living in Yemen in (2015.4): 23.[20]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom have one consulate and embassy based in Sana'a.

Embassy of Yemen in Washington, D.C.

United States

Traditionally, Yemen's relations with the United States have been tepid, as the lack of strong military-to-military ties, commercial relations, and support of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has hindered the development of strong bilateral ties. During the early years of the George W. Bush administration, relations improved under the rubric of the war on terror, though Yemen's lax policy toward wanted terrorists has stalled additional American support.[21]

International organization membership

Yemen is a member of the United Nations (UN) and the following UN affiliates and specialized agencies:[22]

Yemen is also a member of the following organizations:[22]

Yemen was granted observer status at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1999 and in 2002 and 2003 submitted necessary documentation for full membership. The WTO working party on Yemen met in 2004 and twice thereafter to discuss Yemen's accession; negotiations are expected to take several years.[22]

Relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council

Yemen desires to join the 24-year-old Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a sub-regional organization which groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman in an economic and security alliance. GCC members have traditionally opposed accession of additional states. Currently, Yemen has partial observer status on some GCC committees, and observers believe that full membership is unlikely. Others assert that it is in the GCC's interest to assist Yemen and prevent it from becoming a failed state, lest its instability spread to neighboring Gulf countries. This has helped Yemen greatly. In November 2006, an international donors' conference was convened in London to raise funds for Yemen's development. Yemen received pledges totaling $4.7 billion, which are to be disbursed over four years (2007–2010) and represent over 85% of the government's estimated external financing needs. Much of these pledges came from Yemen's wealthy Arab neighbors.[21]

The impediments to full GCC membership are steep. Reportedly, Kuwait, still bitter over Yemen's support for Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War, has blocked further discussion of membership. Meanwhile, Yemen needs to export thousands of its workers each year to the Gulf in order to alleviate economic burdens at home. Foreign remittances are, aside from oil exports, Yemen's primary source of hard currency.[21]

Arab–Israeli conflict

Yemen has usually followed mainstream Arab positions on Arab–Israel issues, and its geographic distance from the conflict and lack of political clout make it a minor player in the peace process. Yemen has not established any bilateral mechanism for diplomatic or commercial contacts with Israel. The Yemeni Jewish community (300 members) continues to dwindle, as many of its members emigrated to Israel decades ago. On December 11, 2008, Moshe Nahari, a Jewish teacher, was murdered in a market in Raidah, home to one of the last Jewish communities in Yemen. After the attack, President Saleh pledged to relocate Yemeni Jews to the capital.[21]

Yemen supports the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for Israel's full withdrawal from all occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in exchange for full normalization of relations with all Arab states in the region. In the spring of 2008, President Saleh attempted to broker a reconciliation agreement between the competing Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. During a March meeting in Sana'a, Palestinian representatives from both groups signed a declaration (the Sana'a Declaration) calling for the creation of a national unity government, but the talks fell apart over the issue of Hamas's role in a unified Palestinian Authority.[21]

Major international treaties

Yemen is a signatory to various international agreements on agricultural commodities, commerce, defense, economic and technical cooperation, finance, and postal matters. Yemen is a Non-Annex I country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Yemen is not a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol but has acceded to it, which has the same legal effect as ratification. Yemen is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, is a party to the Biological Weapons Convention, and has signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. Yemen is also a party to environmental conventions on Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, and Ozone Layer Protection.[22]

2010 embassy closures

In late December 2009, the U.S. Embassy asked Americans in Yemen to keep watch for any suspicious terrorist activity following a terrorist incident on board a flight to the US that was linked to Yemen.[23] On January 3, 2010, following intelligence[24] and threats from al-Qaeda, the U.S. embassy in Sana'a was closed.[24] A statement issued on the embassy's website said: "The US Embassy in Sana'a is closed today, in response to ongoing threats by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen".[25] Al Jazeera reported that the closure of the embassy can mean only that "they believe al-Qaeda threat is very serious". No reopening date was given.[26]

On the same day, the United Kingdom withdrew their presence in the country for similar purposes.[27] The following day, France closed its embassy.[28][29] Although the French Embassy was closed, staff remained inside.[30] The French foreign ministry issued a statement saying, "Our ambassador decided on January 3 not to authorise any public access to the diplomatic mission until further notice."[31] At the Italian Embassy, only those with prior appointments were allowed to enter. Ambassador Mario Boffo noted, though, that "if things remain as they are, then tomorrow or the day after we will return to normality."[32] The embassy of the Czech Republic closed the visa and consular departments "amid fears of terrorist attacks."[33] Japan, South Korea, Spain and Germany also made changes to their security arrangements and embassy accessibility.[34] In addition to extra security at embassies, Yemen increased security at Sana'a International Airport.[35]

According to the BBC, Yemeni media say the embassy closures come after "six trucks full of weapons and explosives entered the capital, and the security forces lost track of the vehicles."[35] Trucks driven by militants, previously under security surveillance, had entered Sana'a and lost the surveillance at that point.[36]

The French, UK, and US embassies later reopened the following day.[37][38]

2015 embassy closures

Following the 2014–15 Yemeni coup d'état, many nations closed their embassies. France, United Kingdom, and United States closed their embassies on 11 February 2015,[39][40] Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia closed their embassies on 13 February,[41][42] Spain, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates closed their embassies on 14 February,[43] Japan closed its embassy on 16 February,[44] and Egypt closed its embassy on 23 February.[45]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Long, David E.; Reich, Bernard (1995). The government and politics of the Middle East and North Africa. Westview Press (3rd edition). p. 153. ISBN 978-0-8133-2125-7.
  2. ↑ Text in League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. 67, pp. 384-391.
  3. ↑ http://www.al-bab.com/yemen/pol/int1.htm
  4. ↑ Ismael, Tareq Y.; Ismael, Jacqueline S.; Jaber, Kamel Abu (1991). Politics and government in the Middle East and North Africa. University Press of Florida. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-8130-1043-4.
  5. ↑ http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/World-Leaders-2003/Yemen-FOREIGN-POLICY.html#ixzz1ZMt9GQKP
  6. ↑ Dresch, Paul (2000). A history of modern Yemen. Cambridge University Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-521-79482-4.
  7. ↑ Yemen, Djibouti talk on cooperation in energy field. Saba News Agency. October 13, 2009.
  8. ↑ Proposed Yemen–Djibouti causeway strategically important – expert. Zawya. August 12, 2007.
  9. ↑ Cardinale, Gianni (January/February 2006). A Catholic bishop in the cradle of Islam . 30 Days.
  10. ↑ Iran and Yemen sign seven documents for cooperation, Payvand's Iran News, 2003-05-16.
  11. ↑ Yemen supports giving Iran the observer seat at the AL, ArabicNews.com, 2003-03-12
  12. ↑ Yemen hints it may cut relations with Iran. Al Bawaba. September 1, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Official Website of Embassy of Malaysia, Sana'a". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Embassy of Yemen in Kuala Lumpur". Embassy Vietnam. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  15. ↑ Republic of Yemen Landmine Impact Survey (Greg Haugan. Mine Action Information Center)
  16. ↑ "Yemen : President Hadi calls on int’l community to bear its responsibilities towards Somalia"
  17. ↑ "Communiqué on Secretary-General's Mini-Summit on Somalia". United Nations. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  18. ↑ Hussein, Adnan (21 January 2013). "Mohamud's visit to United States opens door to further diplomatic success". Sabahi. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  19. ↑ Villelabeitia, Ibon (19 August 2011). "Turkish PM to set up Somali embassy". Reuters. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  20. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/middleeast/countries/20070824/1_24425.jsp?menu=m_30_50
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Sharp, Jeremy M. Yemen: Background and U.S. Relations (RL34170, PDF). Congressional Research Service (January 22, 2009).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Country profile: Yemen. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (August 2008).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Embassy in Yemen closes over terror threats". CNN International. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  24. 1 2 Matthew Weaver (3 January 2010). "US shuts embassy in Yemen after al-Qaida threats". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  25. ↑ "Embassy Closed in Response to Security Threat". Embassy of the United States: Sana'a, Yemen. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  26. ↑ "US shuts Yemen embassy over threats". Al Jazeera English. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  27. ↑ "UK And US Embassies In Yemen Closed". Sky News. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  28. ↑ "France shuts down Yemen embassy". RTÉ News. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  29. ↑ "Security Threats Keep US, British Embassies Closed in Yemen". Voice of America. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  30. ↑ Julian Borger; Hugh Macleod; Ed Pilkington; Peter Walker (4 January 2010). "US and UK keep Yemen embassies shut for second day". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  31. ↑ England, Andrew; Jean Eaglesham (2009-01-04). "Third western embassy closes in Yemen". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  32. ↑ "Italy limits public access to embassy in Yemen". Reuters. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  33. ↑ "Czech Republic closes visa department in Yemen". M&C. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  34. ↑ "More embassies halt service in Yemen amid terror threat". CNN International. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  35. 1 2 "Embassies shut after 'Yemen lost track of arms trucks'". BBC. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  36. ↑ Blomfield, Adrian (2010-01-04). "Six trucks of explosives 'disappear' in Yemen". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  37. ↑ "Yemen 'arrests al-Qaeda suspects' wounded in raid". BBC News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  38. ↑ Sudam, Mohamed (6 January 2010). "US opens Yemen embassy after raid". Business Day (South Africa). Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  39. ↑ United States closes its embassy in conflict-hit Yemen Reuters. 10 February 2014. Accessed 14 February 2014
  40. ↑ Britain, France to shutter Yemen embassies Washington Post. 11 February 2014. Accessed 14 February 2014
  41. ↑ Germany, Italy close Yemen embassies Business Recorder. 14 February 2015. Accessed 14 February 2014
  42. ↑ Clashes between Shi'ite Houthis and Sunnis in Yemen leave 26 dead BBC News. 14 February 2014. Accessed 14 February 2014
  43. ↑ Yemen's Houthis accused of torture against rivals Al Jazeera. 14 February 2015. Accessed 14 February 2015
  44. ↑ Japan Closes Yemen Embassy After Militia Takeover, First Asian Country To Leave Amid Security Concerns International Business Times. 16 February 2015. Accessed 16 February 2015
  45. ↑ Egypt shuts embassy in Yemen over ‘bad’ security The Japan Times. 24 February 2015. Accessed 24 February 2015
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