Saudi-Yemen conflict: The notion of an 'American saviour' is dead

The notion of a supportive American power in the Saudi-Yemen conflict is no longer viable, according to recent developments. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman turned to US President Donald Trump twice for assistance as Houthi forces advanced on the country's Red Sea coast, only to be met with disappointment. Trump responded by offering intelligence and targeted assistance rather than launching strikes.

This pattern of expectation followed the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the US attributed to Iran, a request Trump declined to retaliate against. The assumption that Washington would intervene during times of grave security threats has proven to be mistaken. The US security order in the Middle East is on the brink of collapse, and it is crucial that regional leaders recognize and adopt a new model where they take primary responsibility for security.

The Iran war has demonstrated that the American security order is neither reliable nor effective. US bases in GCC countries have instead become sources of insecurity, and Iran's attacks have posed a greater threat to the GCC states than the US could have protected them from. Moving forward, regional states must forge a new order centered on inclusive and collective security, reject bloc formations, and empower themselves rather than relying on external powers.

This can be achieved by developing institutions to manage rivalries and addressing shared challenges such as water, climate, and economic development. The Better Order Project proposes a regional security architecture that includes Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and other Arab states, with the US serving as an important external partner without assuming the permanent military guarantor role.

Crucially, the model recognizes the need for Israel's inclusion upon the creation of a Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders, as a powerful incentive for Israel to abandon its illegal occupation of Palestinian land. This approach would reshape the Middle East for the better, reducing the military burden on the US while fostering regional cooperation and stability.