President Al-Zubaidi Meets with EU Mission Head and Netherlands and Germany Ambassadors

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), virtually met on Sunday with H.E. Gabriel Viñales, Head of the EU Mission to Yemen, and Ambassadors of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Jeannette Seppen, and the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Herbert Jager.

The meeting discussed a range of key issues, foremost among which was the Houthi terrorist escalation against international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden, and the growing threats posed by this escalation to the global economy and energy security, as well as its catastrophic humanitarian repercussions on citizens at home.

In this regard, President Al-Zubaidi reaffirmed that the hostile acts of the Houthi militia clearly demonstrate their unwillingness and lack of seriousness in pursuing peace and highlighted that, through these terrorist attacks and ongoing escalation, the militia has transformed from the group threatening the security and stability of the country and the region into a terrorist group posing a serious threat to the security and stability of the region and the world.

During the meeting, the President reiterated his call to intensify cooperation among all local, regional, and international partners, to adopt a comprehensive deterrence strategy, curbing the aggressiveness of the terrorist Houthi militia, and ensuring the protection of international shipping lanes in this vital strategic route of the world, which represents a lifeline linking the East with the West.

Furthermore, the meeting touched on the pressing economic and humanitarian situation facing the country and explored ways to bolster the efforts of the PLC and the internationally recognized government to steer the country out of crisis. In this respect, President Al-Zubaidi has urged the EU to increase its support through development programs that focus on improving livelihoods, promoting sustainable development projects, and upskilling young people, thereby contributing to building societal capacity and achieving stability.

In turn, the EU head of mission and the ambassadors of the Netherlands and Germany have reiterated their full support for UN-led endeavors and regional efforts to bring about peace in the country and reaffirmed the EU's continued commitment to providing the needed support to improve the humanitarian situation and to activate development partnerships in a way that enhances the chances of achieving stability and peace in the country.