Saudi Arabia is strongly urging the European Union to designate the Houthi movement in Yemen, which is backed by Iran, as a terrorist organization. This pressure comes as European concerns about the impact of such a move on future peace processes remain intact.
Saudi Pressure for Increased International Pressure
This campaign is part of Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to increase international pressure on the Houthis, a group that has carried out daily attacks on the Saudi kingdom in recent weeks. This comes as a war that has lasted over a decade has reignited.
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The Houthis are currently under European Union sanctions, including a ban on arms sales and asset freezes for twelve commanders of the group. However, the European Union has so far refrained from recognizing the Houthis as terrorists, while other Western countries, including the United States, Australia, and Canada, have taken this step.
Concerns of European Countries and Potential Consequences
European countries are concerned that if the Houthis are recognized as a terrorist group, the limited communication channels they have with this group will be closed, potentially affecting any European involvement in the future peace process in Yemen. Adding the Houthis to the terrorist list requires unanimous support from the 27 member states of the European Union, and so far, support has been limited to a few of these countries.
The Saudi government's communications office has not responded to requests regarding this matter. Meanwhile, Anwar al-Awni, the EU's foreign policy spokesperson, stated that the Union regularly communicates with Riyadh on various issues, including regional developments, but did not comment on specific ongoing discussions.
Last month, the European Parliament symbolically expressed its support for a tougher stance against the Houthis by passing a resolution calling for the group to be designated as a terrorist organization. There is optimism and solidarity among European countries with Saudi Arabia; however, they remain cautious about recognizing the Houthis as a terrorist organization.
Concerns about the consequences of this action include the potential for Houthi retaliation targeting European ships near Yemen and complicating the work of humanitarian organizations in Houthi-controlled areas. Additionally, some European officials have pointed out that the EU's terrorist designation is not easily reversible and would require unanimous support from members to restore it.
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