Trump snubs Saudi Crown Prince’s repeated requests amid raging Houthi attacks on oil facilities in Red Sea

In a recent report by Axios, it has been revealed that US President Donald Trump ignored repeated calls from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for assistance against the Houthi threat to Saudi oil infrastructure in the Red Sea. The Crown Prince had called President Trump twice, urging for strikes against the Iran-backed militant group, but Trump declined to take direct action.

The Houthi offensive launched last week targeted Saudi-backed government forces over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is a crucial chokepoint for global trade and Saudi oil exports. The strategic waterway in the Red Sea is of vital importance to the US and its Gulf allies. Following Trump's extension of political support to Saudi Arabia, the Houthis retaliated with counter strikes after he called for Saudi Arabia to attack the Sanaa airport.

As the fighting escalated, the Crown Prince called Trump again to update him on the deteriorating situation. Another call was made several hours later, requesting US strikes against the Houthis, but Trump remained firm on his position and assured that intelligence inputs would be provided to assist Riyadh in targeting Houthi facilities.

Currently, around 200 US military personnel are stationed in Saudi Arabia to support the Kingdom. The US administration's priority lies in maintaining the Red Sea's freedom of navigation and empowering regional partners to resolve their broader security challenges, according to a senior US official. The US administration is focused on protecting its core national security interests while supporting its regional allies in managing and resolving security challenges.

While the US aims to avoid direct military involvement, it is providing intelligence and non-kinetic support to Saudi Arabia. The US Central Command commander, Adm Brad Cooper, visited Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings. On Friday, the Houthis completed the takeover of a key Red Sea island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to AFP.