UK pledges tougher measures to halt arms smuggling to Yemen’s Houthis

Britain has pledged to strengthen international measures to prevent the smuggling of weapons and dual-use technologies to Yemen’s Houthi group, while preparing for an international conference to rally political, economic, and humanitarian support for Yemen’s government and people. The UK also praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in supporting Yemen.

The commitment came during a phone call on Friday between UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Ed Miliband and Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, to discuss recent developments in Yemen and the region, as well as coordinated international efforts to enhance security and stability, according to Yemen’s official news agency.

Miliband affirmed that the UK, as the penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council, will continue working with international partners to tighten controls on arms and dual-use technology smuggling to the Houthis, and to support efforts to end the Yemeni crisis in line with international legitimacy resolutions.

The British minister commended Saudi Arabia’s key role in supporting Yemen and its people, noting that the UK government is preparing an international conference aimed at mobilizing political, economic, and humanitarian backing for Yemen’s government and people, and securing the resources and funding needed to alleviate humanitarian suffering and support recovery and stability in the country.

For his part, Rashad Al-Alimi praised Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemen’s government and people in confronting and deterring escalation, and valued the UK’s efforts to end the Houthi threat to international peace and security.