TRENDS Research & Advisory participated in the «Future of Yemen» conference, held at the French Senate in the Luxembourg Palace, in the French capital, Paris. The center was represented in the conference sessions and discussions by Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, senior researcher and Deputy Head of the Research Sector at TRENDS, who made a presentation titled «The Role of Arab Countries and Humanitarian Aid in Stabilizing Yemen».

TRENDS’ participation came at the invitation of Senator Nathalie Goulet, member of the French Senate for the Orne department, Senator Sophie Primas, Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, and H.E. Dr. Riyad Yassin Abdallah, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to France.

Maritime Security

Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi noted that Yemen is currently suffering after years of conflict, with 21.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN data—representing two-thirds of Yemen’s population. There are also approximately 4.5 million internally displaced people, according to the International Organization for Migration, and 2.2 million children suffering from acute malnutrition, according to UNICEF.

He emphasized that stabilizing Yemen would bring broader stability to the entire region, as the country represents a cornerstone of regional security, directly impacting the safety of vital maritime routes such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which 12% of global trade passes. Stability in Yemen also contributes to curbing the spread of extremist groups and strengthening economic integration among regional countries.

The Threat of the Houthis

Al-Shehhi stressed the necessity for greater and broader Arab and Gulf involvement in restoring Yemen’s stability and reintegrating it into the Arab and Gulf spheres. He pointed out that the Arab Coalition was the first to recognize the threat posed by the Houthi militia, but curbing this danger requires greater international efforts, especially from European countries.

Al-Shehhi highlighted that the dire economic, humanitarian, and living conditions in Yemen have created an ideal environment for terrorist and extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda. This necessitates development-oriented humanitarian aid to limit the spread of these groups and prevent them from exploiting economic hardships to recruit vulnerable individuals.

Prioritizing National Interests

Al-Shehhi concluded that for any solution supporting Yemen’s stability to succeed, Yemenis themselves must recognize the importance of national identity and prioritize the nation’s interests above personal or factional ones. He warned against allowing gaps and divisions that could lead to foreign intervention and influence, which ultimately threaten Yemen’s Arab identity and long-term stability.