MBS, UAE vice president meet in Riyadh

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Riyadh on Tuesday, according to Saudi official media. The meeting occurred months following a rift between the two nations over Yemen.

The gathering comes as Saudi Arabia faces increasing attacks from the Houthis, a Yemeni group that recently took control of the Red Sea coast. The kingdom has been seeking assistance from international allies to combat the Houthis, who have carried out assaults on Saudi tankers, oil facilities, airports, and even the capital city.

During the meeting, the crown prince and the vice president discussed the current state of their bilateral relations and regional developments. The session also included Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman.

In December, Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of endangering national security by backing southern Yemeni separatists who staged a brief offensive in government-controlled regions. However, in July, officials and ministers from both Saudi Arabia and the UAE began sharing messages on social media expressing friendship and unity, signaling a potential reconciliation.

This came amid a resurgence of Yemen's civil war, with the Houthis launching a new campaign against Saudi-backed government forces, seizing territory and targeting Saudi soil. The group has also imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have had a history of foreign policy disagreements, encompassing issues such as Yemen, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa, where the two nations have backed opposing forces.