عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Interviews

Yemen FM: Biden's Visit Presents Opportunity to Achieve Consensus on Yemen Crisis

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Yemen FM: Biden's Visit Presents Opportunity to Achieve Consensus on Yemen Crisis

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak considered the upcoming visit of US President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia an opportunity to achieve regional and international consensus that would be reflected in resolving the Yemeni crisis.

“We look at the visit positively, hoping that the US administration will renew its position in support of the stability and security of the region in general and Yemen in particular,” said bin Mubarak.

“The visit constitutes an opportunity to achieve regional-international consensus on the Yemeni issue, in light of the recent developments and the continuation of the coup militias to obstruct the path of the UN truce,” he added.

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Mubarak stressed that the only way to ensure stability and security requires stopping Iranian meddling in Yemen.

“To ensure the stability of energy markets in the world, the region must be stable, and here we are talking especially about Yemen,” said bin Mubarak.

“It is not possible to talk about the stability of the region and the world, and the guarantee of the flow of energy and food supplies, in light of the clear Iranian interference and support for the Houthi militias threatening international shipping lanes,” he added.

“We believe that stopping the Iranian regime's interference in Yemen is the only way to establish peace and stability,” asserted bin Mubarak.

He also noted that Yemen doesn’t need more initiatives, but rather needs existing ones to be implemented.

The top Yemeni diplomat also doubted the truce with the militias would last, especially that the Iran-backed group has already failed to fulfill its commitments and chose to escalate on several fronts.

Mubarak described Yemen-US relations as “strategic.”

Yemen’s ties with Washington do not stop at combating terrorism only, but also go beyond that to support building Yemeni institutions, providing humanitarian aid, and supporting the Yemeni people in various crises and stages, affirmed the foreign minister.

Most Viewed

 
 
Interviews

FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
TT
TT

FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.