French president and Saudi crown prince to host international conference on Yemeni civil war
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will co-host in Paris today for a conference regarding the civil war in Yemen.
Though the conference has been planned for nearly two months, the Saudi-led June 12 affront on the Port of Hodeidah and its aftermath obscures the likelihood that salient solutions to end the war will emerge. Additionally, the Houthis’ Sunday missile launch attempt on Riyadh complicates the visit to Yemen of a United Nations special envoy seeking to broker peace.
A proposal is currently in circulation over UN control over al Hodeidah and rooting out Houthi militia presence throughout the western coast. However, the fragility and potential failure of this diplomatic endeavour may compromise the execution of any humanitarian goals set today in Paris.
Indeed, holding the conference from the angle of humanitarianism may be perceived as purely cosmetic. With France a supporter of the Saudi offensive coalition along with the US and UK, and the Iranian-backed Houthis unlikely to be represented, a clear track to terminating the conflict from this conference is dubious.
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