Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has criticized the Biden administration’s proposal to reverse the designation of the Houthi group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization in exchange for a halt to attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels. The senator took to social media to express his concerns, calling it a “new low” for the Biden foreign policy team.
U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking, however, defended the administration’s approach during a press briefing, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the situation and eventually lift the designation on the Houthis.
Meanwhile, a top Air Force commander for the Middle East suggested that the pace of attacks by the Houthis may be slowing down, indicating a possible depletion of their resources. The State Department reiterated that the SDGT designation is crucial in pressuring the group to cease its terrorist activities, particularly its missile and drone attacks on international shipping.
The Trump administration had previously designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in 2021, but the Biden administration reversed this decision upon taking office due to humanitarian concerns in Yemen. The group was later relisted as an SDGT after continued attacks on shipping vessels.
Critics, including former National Security Council official Richard Goldberg, have raised concerns about the administration’s approach, suggesting that avoiding the FTO designation may be a strategy to legitimize the Houthis as part of the governing structure in Yemen.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains focused on finding peaceful resolutions to the conflict in Yemen and ensuring the safety of global trade routes in the region.
