
President Donald Trump moves to redesignate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organization, reversing a Biden administration policy and potentially impacting Middle East security and maritime trade.
More sanity from the new Trump admin – and we’re only a week or two in!
At a Glance
- Trump issues executive order to redesignate Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed to report on designation within 30 days
- USAID instructed to terminate projects involving entities supporting Houthis
- Move aims to counteract Houthi influence and protect U.S. and partner interests
- Concerns raised about potential impact on humanitarian aid to Yemen
Trump’s Executive Order and Its Implications
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to redesignate the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This decisive action overturns the Biden administration’s previous policy and aims to diminish the Houthis’ ability to conduct operations and pose threats in the region.
The order mandates that Secretary of State Marco Rubio report on the designation within 30 days and take action within 15 days after that.
“This order sets in motion a process by which Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, shall be considered for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization,” the Executive Order reads.
One crucial aspect of the executive order involves the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The order instructs USAID to identify and terminate projects involving entities that support the Houthis. As stated in the order, “The Administrator of USAID shall take all appropriate action to terminate the projects, grants, or contracts identified.” This directive aims to cut off potential financial supports for the Houthi rebels.
“A foreign terrorist organization designation ran the risk of having a deterrent effect on some of those aid groups continuing to provide aid — worrying that they might be charged as providing material support to a terrorist organization,” then-State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
The Executive Order also mandates a review of United Nations partners, NGOs, and contractors in Yemen by USAID and the Secretary of State. This comprehensive approach seeks to ensure that U.S. resources are not inadvertently supporting the Houthi rebels or their sympathizers.
Regional Security and Maritime Trade
The Trump administration’s decision to redesignate the Houthis as an FTO is rooted in concerns over regional security and the protection of maritime trade routes. The reversal of the FTO designation by the Biden administration is claimed to have led to increased Houthi attacks on U.S. Navy warships, civilian infrastructure in partner nations, and commercial vessels in the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb strait.
NEWS
As expected, the Biden administration is re-designating Ansar Allah (Houthis) as a terrorist group, this time as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The Trump administration had them designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The Biden administration had… pic.twitter.com/7SA64Q5p0a
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 17, 2024
Yemeni officials have credited Trump’s leadership for a recent change in the Houthis’ posture. The rebels have indicated a reduction in attacks on maritime traffic, now targeting only Israeli vessels. Additionally, they recently released the crew of a seized cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, signaling a potential shift in their aggressive tactics.
The decision to redesignate the Houthis as an FTO has sparked debate among policymakers and humanitarian organizations. While some argue that the FTO label would deter the Houthis and cut off their funding, others express concerns about the impact on humanitarian aid to Yemen, a country already facing severe humanitarian challenges.
A group of Republican senators, supported by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, had previously proposed legislation to redesignate the Houthis as an FTO. This move by the Trump administration aligns with their efforts to take a harder stance against the Yemeni rebel group.
What do our readers make of the news?