At the weekend, the US Department of Defense revealed a new offer made by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during his contact with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the war in Yemen.
The ministry indicated in a statement, that Austin stressed on the need to end the war on Yemen, in exchange for America’s commitment to secure Saudi Arabia, including the land borders.
It also clarified that the two ministers discussed develop and support Kingdom’s defense plans in this path, and in a clear indication of an American retreat from previous pledges to stop arms deals to the Saudi-led coalition since more than 6 years ago and is about to cause the largest humanitarian disaster in the world.
Lloyd Austin called Late Friday evening, his Saudi counterpart, Mohammed bin Salman, as part of an American preparation for an upcoming contact between Joe Biden and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, as the White House had previously confirmed that the contact does not include the crown prince.
The contact is part of re-normalizing relations process between Saudi Arabia and United States with their new administrations. It began with the White House announcing its review based on developments between the two countries during the era of former President Donald Trump, and the image of America was dropped from the foreground after US army turned into a tool in the hands of Saudi Arabia.
Biden, who relies mainly on diplomacy, according to American media, seeks to keep the relationship balanced in the Middle East in a way that keeps Saudi Arabia at the mercy of America tutelage.
US media had published Austen’s vision to Saudi war on Yemen, prior to his appointment as defense minister in Biden administration.
Austin, who was participating in commanding US forces in Iraq during the Saudi attack on Yemen, revealed at the time his dissatisfaction with the attack and his thinking about Obama administration’s request to condemn him, but, according to close associates who spoke to US media, he was aware of Saudis ’defeat and their need for Americans, which made him back off his request.
Austin sees Houthis as a necessary force in Yemen for its commitment to fight terrorism, including al-Qaeda, which took advantage from the vacuum in the aftermath of 2011 and began toppling cities.
it sees now according to sources, lifting Saudi Arabia out of Yemen war quagmire is through giving it what it needs, not what it wants, in reference to the eastern coast, which Saudi Arabia is trying to turn it into a corridor to export oil.