Bridget Toomey, and Eric Navarro
Supporting and training the Yemeni Coast Guard is a low-cost way to undermine Houthi threats to the Red Sea.
Speaking at the UN last month, Yemeni president Rashid al-Alimi called for an international coalition to counter the Houthis in his address to the United Nations General Assembly. A multilateral effort to counter Houthi weapons smuggling would be a great starting point for such an effort. Luckily, one was recently announced, and the United States should support it.
On September 16, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia launched the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership (YMSP) to develop Yemen’s Coast Guard and support it in protecting maritime trade, counter smuggling, and combating piracy off Yemen’s shores. The YMSP conference was attended by representatives from 30 countries and five international organizations, including the United States. It received millions of dollars in initial pledges, with the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia each pledging $4 million, and another €2 million from the European Union.
The United Kingdom has previously undertaken substantial efforts to support Yemen’s Coast Guard, and Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Nations, and other countries have also contributed in the past. Despite this support, Maj. Gen. Khalid al-Qamali, head of Yemen’s Coast Guard Authority, insists the force still lacks the resources necessary to meet its mission requirements. This new initiative should build upon earlier efforts to transform local counter-smuggling and counter-piracy efforts in Yemen.
To address this shortfall, the United States should increase its financial, material, and military support of the UK- and Saudi-led YMSP. The financial piece is straightforward. For a relatively small amount of money, compared to the annual US military budget, the United States can significantly enhance Yemeni capabilities. Supplies of more advanced weapons or sensors could achieve the same effect, extending the coast guard’s range, enhancing interoperability with coalition forces, and increasing lethality against Houthi forces.
Militarily, the United States could offer a series of Theater Security Cooperation engagements that upgrade the level of training for the Yemeni forces. Even more impactful, the United States could increase its intelligence sharing and potential logistics support to the coast guard, thereby improving its ability to identify targets and conduct continuous operations.
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