Advertisement Saudi scrambles to solve ‘humiliating dilemma’ after US rejects Red Sea intervention Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks 4-MIN READ4-MIN Saudi Arabia faces a “humiliating dilemma” after the United States refused to militarily intervene to prevent the Iran-aligned Houthi militia from tightening its blockade of the kingdom’s key backup maritime trade route with Asia, according to analysts. US President Donald Trump on September 12 dismissed the Houthi seizure of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast as a problem that “only affects one country”. Iran has already blockaded the Straits of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia’s main oil and petrochemicals export lane from the Gulf. This stance has “deeply disturbed” the Saudi leadership, according to Michael Ratney, a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia. It was “deeply frustrating, to say the least” for Riyadh, Ratney said at a webinar hosted by the Washington-based Arab Gulf States Institute on Wednesday. Trump’s belief that all would be “fine and dandy” contrasted starkly with the suspension of Saudi oil exports from the Red Sea the same day, after drone strikes by Iran-allied Iraqi militias badly damaged the east-west pipeline that had enabled the kingdom to bypass Hormuz since the Iran war erupted on February 28. Select Voice Select Speed 1x AI-generated voice
Advertisement Saudi scrambles to solve ‘humiliating dilemma’ after US rejects Red Sea intervention Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks 4-MIN READ4-MIN Saudi Arabia faces a “humilia…
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Ukraine and Russia have indicated a willingness to resume U.S.-brokered peace talks and support a humanitarian mission in Kherson, though significant disputes over territory and security guarantees persist. These diplomatic developments occurred concurrently with reported missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and claims by Moscow of intercepting Ukrainian drones, highlighting the continued intensity of the conflict.
Ukraine and Russia have indicated a willingness to resume U.S.-brokered peace negotiations and support a humanitarian mission led by First Lady Melania Trump, which includes a proposed local ceasefire in Kherson. However, significant obstacles remain, as deep disagreements persist regarding territorial control and security guarantees.
Despite these diplomatic signals, Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Kyiv shortly after President Putin stated he agreed "in principle" to restart talks.
Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump stated on October 23 that further military strikes against Iran remain an active policy option, referencing prior operations. These remarks were made during a campaign rally in Florida amid ongoing regional hostilities and concerns over disruptions to Persian Gulf shipping lanes.
Ukraine and Russia announced a ceasefire agreement for the occupied town of Oleshky, effective October 27, which reportedly facilitates humanitarian aid and evacuations under the coordination of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Concurrently, President Zelensky stated that technical-level negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled for early November in Abu Dhabi, though a U.
S. official indicated the location could alternatively be Switzerland. These developments follow earlier U.S.-mediated talks that concluded in February without achieving a broader resolution to the conflict.