Oman’s Role in Yemen Conflict Mediation

The Sultanate of Oman is almost the only country in the Arab world

Arab world, specifically in the Gulf Cooperation Council

states, that has relations

good relations with the Houthis and the ability to influence

them. Its mediation succeeded between the Houthis

and the Americans when the U.S. administration turned

to the Sultanate of Oman.

As Jim Krane said, after the Americans felt the—

the Houthis' might, the Houthis destroyed, as Jim Krane says, not I,

30 ships in their fleet and attacked

a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea as well.

It seems the U.S. president was unable to

continue confronting the Houthis, so he turned to the Omanis, and

the mediation succeeded. I think the Omanis are serious about

stopping this futile war, especially

between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, because now the war

is no longer an internal war between the Yemeni

government in the interim capital, Aden, and the Houthis in Sana'a.

But today, as the esteemed guest mentioned, the…

Houthis have ballistic missiles and they have

drones, and they appear to have a large stockpile

of ballistic missiles and drones,

and they have, I mean, struck civilian

targets and targeted infrastructure, especially

at airports, and civilians were harmed.

Among those killed in

Saudi Arabia was one Saudi pilot with Saudi Arabian Airlines.

So, this war must be stopped,

and I believe negotiations are necessary.

Otherwise, perhaps

Omani mediation can succeed and negotiations

can take place between the Saudis and the Houthis, and the Saudis have the right

to influence, of course, the legitimate

government in the interim capital,

Aden, to negot— to negotiate with the Houthis

and convince them of the need to engage.

I say convince them, and we hope the Houthis

will be convinced to engage in political work.

Some say that escalation makes any efforts difficult

Diplomacy. Do you agree with this view, or might it

instead help bring viewpoints closer together?

But there is a common factor here between the Houthis in Sana'a

and the legitimate government in the interim capital, Aden,

namely the Yemeni people. Recent UN reports

say that more than 23 million

Yemeni citizens are suffering terribly.

That's right.

In terms of their livelihoods, they have reached

the poverty line in their daily lives.

I believe both sides care about these people,

the one Yemeni people, whether those in Sana'a or those

in Aden. Truly, I place great hope in

Omani mediation because it is mediation

that does not serve its own interests. We do not

place as much faith in the United States as we do

in Omani mediation. Omani mediation and

Omani diplomacy are the only card

we have in these critical circumstances.