The Civil War in Yemen and Saudi Regional Hegemonic Ambition

Perang Saudara Yaman dan Cita-cita Hegemoni Serantau Saudi

Authors

  • Muhammad Lutfi Lukman Universiti Malaya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47548/ijistra.2024.83

Keywords:

Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Civil War, Houthis, Humanitarian Crisis, Foreign Policy

Abstract

The Arab Spring revolution has forced Yemen’s ruler, Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign after 33 years in power. The dispute between Saleh and his successor, Abdurrabuh Mansur Hadi has opened a huge opportunity for the Houthis who is backed by Iran to claim their power over Yemen. Saudi Arabia became directly involved in the conflict as Hadi seek assistance from Saudi to reclaim his right to rule but Saudi also has its own agenda. This study examines the implications of Saudi intervention in Yemen on the securitization of its national interests and its sphere of influence in the region. This research considers the changes in Saudi foreign policy towards other states in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) particularly in the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2011. This study also seeks to understand the war by proxy used by Saudi Arabia and Iran to further their agenda in Yemen and MENA as well as the possibility of stabilising Yemen in the event of Saudi withdrawal from Yemen. This study may provide some insights on the effectiveness of foreign intervention in the Middle East taking into account the impacts of the Arab Spring and the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.

 

Revolusi Arab Spring telah memaksa penguasa Yaman, Ali Abdullah Saleh untuk meletakkan jawatan selepas 33 tahun berkuasa. Pertikaian antara Saleh dan penggantinya, Abdurrabuh Mansur Hadi telah membuka peluang besar bagi puak Houthi yang disokong oleh Iran untuk menuntut kuasa mereka ke atas Yaman. Arab Saudi terlibat secara langsung dalam konflik ini apabila Hadi meminta bantuan dari Saudi untuk menuntut kembali haknya untuk memerintah, tetapi Saudi juga mempunyai agendanya yang tersendiri. Kajian ini meneliti implikasi campur tangan Saudi di Yaman terhadap sekuritisasi kepentingan nasionalnya dan lingkungan pengaruhnya di rantau ini. Penyelidikan ini melihat perubahan dalam dasar luar Saudi terhadap negara-negara lain di Timur Tengah dan Afrika Utara (MENA) khususnya selepas Arab Spring pada tahun 2011. Kajian ini juga cuba untuk memahami perang melalui proksi yang digunakan oleh Arab Saudi dan Iran untuk melanjutkan agenda mereka di Yaman dan MENA serta kemungkinan menstabilkan Yaman sekiranya Saudi menarik diri dari Yaman. Kajian ini boleh meningkatkan kefahaman mengenai keberkesanan campur tangan asing di Timur Tengah dengan mengambil kira kesan Arab Spring dan pandemik COVID-19 di rantau ini.

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Published

2024-05-31

How to Cite

Lukman, M. L. (2024). The Civil War in Yemen and Saudi Regional Hegemonic Ambition : Perang Saudara Yaman dan Cita-cita Hegemoni Serantau Saudi. International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Strategic Studies, 5(8), 509-522. https://doi.org/10.47548/ijistra.2024.83