Biden’s Houthi Policy Under Scrutiny Amidst Escalating Red Sea Crisis
Former President Joe Biden’s approach to the Houthi rebels in Yemen is facing renewed and intensified criticism as the Iran-backed group’s actions disrupt global commerce, threaten vital shipping lanes, and further destabilize the already volatile Middle East. Experts from both Saudi Arabia and the United States are questioning the effectiveness and consequences of Biden’s initial policies towards the Houthis, suggesting they may have inadvertently emboldened the group’s aggression.
In February 2021, less than a month into his presidency, Biden announced a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding the conflict in Yemen. He declared an end to all U.S. offensive support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthis. This decision was presented as a move to promote a United Nations-led initiative aimed at achieving a ceasefire and restarting peace talks in Yemen, a nation ravaged by years of civil war.
Adding to this shift, the Biden administration, just a week later, removed the Houthis from the list of designated foreign terrorist organizations. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended this decision as a recognition of the dire humanitarian crisis engulfing Yemen, arguing that the designation hindered the delivery of essential aid to the suffering population.
However, this series of decisions has been met with strong opposition and skepticism. Salman Al-Ansari, a prominent geopolitical analyst from Saudi Arabia, argues that Biden’s early policies towards the Houthis, particularly their removal from the terror list without any reciprocal concessions, constituted an act of "appeasement" that ultimately fueled their aggression. He asserts that the Houthis, acting as an Iranian proxy, have plunged Yemen into a state of chaos, destabilized the wider region, and launched attacks on global shipping, jeopardizing international trade and security.
The recent military strikes ordered by the Trump administration, according to Al-Ansari, represent a necessary correction to Biden’s perceived missteps, sending a clear message that acts of piracy and terrorism will not be tolerated.
The Red Sea and the Strait of Mandab are critical arteries of global commerce, facilitating the transit of over 20% of the world’s oil shipments and 13% of overall global trade. Any failure to secure these vital waterways, Al-Ansari warns, carries the risk of severe economic and security repercussions. While Saudi Arabia remains committed to finding a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, he believes that such a solution is unattainable without sustained pressure on both the Houthis and their primary backer, Iran. In his view, "strength, not appeasement, is the only language they understand."
The Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, operates under a stark slogan: "Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam." This ideology underscores the extremist nature of the group and their hostility towards the United States and its allies.
Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, echoes the criticism of Biden’s Houthi policy. He argues that Biden’s decision to de-list the Houthis turned the issue into a partisan one, prompting the subsequent retaliatory actions. Furthermore, he suggests that weakening the Houthis would reassure Saudi Arabia of America’s renewed commitment to its security, after what he describes as "four years of ambivalence" from the Biden White House.
Schanzer highlights the multiple benefits of the U.S. strikes against the Houthis. These strikes send a signal to Saudi Arabia that the U.S. is dedicated to its regional security, reassure Europe of the U.S. commitment to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea (reducing shipping costs for European companies), and contribute to dismantling Iran’s "ring of fire" strategy. He suggests that the weakening of the Iranian regime could potentially lead to opportunities to address its nuclear program or even bring about its downfall.
The Houthis have not only destabilized Yemen and threatened international shipping, but they have also launched military strikes against U.S. ally Israel in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
In January 2024, President Biden authorized strikes against the Houthis in response to their escalating attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, including the unprecedented use of anti-ship ballistic missiles. He stated that the strikes were a direct response to the Houthi’s actions against international maritime vessels.
However, just a week after these initial strikes, the Biden administration reversed course and re-listed the Houthis as a specially designated global terrorist group, signaling a renewed effort to halt their attacks on U.S. and international shipping.
The back-and-forth nature of the Biden administration’s policies towards the Houthis has drawn further criticism, raising questions about the coherence and effectiveness of its overall strategy in the region.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
