Saudi Arabia–Yemen relations

Saudi Arabia-Yemen relations

Saudi Arabia	Yemen

Saudi Arabia and Yemen relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The two countries at one time did enjoy good relations and closely cooperated in military, economic and cultural issues.^[1] However, now because of the ongoing Yemeni Civil War and the realignments of power in the Middle East with the emergence of al-Qaeda and the radicalization of some factions of Islam, Saudi Arabia has led a military intervention into Yemen, alongside a nine-member coalition, backed logistically by the United States, using airstrikes inside of Yemen and commencing a naval and aerial blockade beginning March 26, 2015.

History

Modern Saudi-Yemeni relations began in 1803 with an attack by Saudi forces of the territory of Zaydi Imamate with the help of some local Yemeni tribes. The Saudis won and had control over the Tihama region until 1818 when the forces of the Ottoman khedive of Egypt, Mohammed Ali Pasha, destroyed the Saudi state ^[2]

The establishment of a protectorate over the Idrisi sultanate in Asir led to clashes between Ibn Saud and imam Yahya of Yemen. Ibn Saud captured Asir and Jizan while the imam managed to occupy the oasis of Najran^[3] Negotiations proved fruitless, the Saudis regained control over Najran and occupied about 100 kilometers of the coastal plain ^[4] in 1948, Saudi Arabia provided aid to imam Ahmed fearing the "constitutional" nature of an uprising in Yemen ^[5]

Border

In September 2003, in an effort by the Saudi government to control incursions by Yemenis into Saudi Arabia and slow terrorist actions, the Saudis began construction of a wall of cement-filled pipeline, 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter along its border with Yemen. Following, complaints by the Yemeni government to the Saudis that construction of the wall violated a year 2000 treaty between the two nations, the Saudis stopped work on the wall in February 2004. But by that time, 47 miles (75 kilometers) of cement-filled barrier, of the 1,100 mile (1800 kilometer) border had been erected.

References

1. Saudi-Yemeni Relations: Domestic Structures and Foreign Influence By F. Gregory Gause p.4 ISBN 978-0-231-07044-7 Columbia University Press
2. Saudi-Yemeni Relations: Domestic Structures and Foreign Influence By F. Gregory Gause p.57
3. Saudi-Yemeni Relations: Domestic Structures and Foreign Influence By F. Gregory Gause p.58
4. A History of Modern Yemen By Paul Dresch 35
5. Saudi-Yemeni Relations: Domestic Structures and Foreign Influence By F. Gregory Gause 58

Bibliography

Gause, F. Gregory, (1990), Saudi-Yemeni Relations: Domestic Structures and Foreign Influence, Columbia University Press, ISBN 9780231070447.