Saudi Arabia and UAE Rivalry Fuels Sudan and Yemen Conflicts
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are accused of exacerbating wars in Sudan and Yemen through competing interventions driven by a personal leadership rivalry.
Competing foreign interventions by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have exacerbated conflicts in Sudan and Yemen, contributing to hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of nearly 20 million people. These actions are described as the result of a personal rivalry between Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and President Muhammad bin Zayed rather than a unified regional strategy.
In Sudan, the two Gulf powers back opposing factions. The United Arab Emirates supports the Rapid Support Forces, a militia linked to mass rape and genocide, while Saudi Arabia provides support to the regular Sudanese army. In Yemen, the rivalry has led to an Emirati pullback, which has allowed the Iran-backed Houthi militia to expand its influence and target Saudi airports and pipelines.
Critics argue this foreign adventurism imperils vital Red Sea trade routes and undermines the security of both Gulf states. This instability comes as the United States is viewed as a less dependable ally under President Donald Trump.
