With just a month to his presidency, Joe Biden’s foreign policy already looks like a joke.
On Sunday, 48 hours after removing the Houthis rebels from Yemen from a State Department terrorist blacklist and ordering an end to US support for Saudi Arabia-led military efforts against the Houthis, the Biden government turned around and urged the Iran-backed group to stop committing acts of terrorism against civilians and to cease military operations.
The State Department considers a master plan to end the war. This prompted the Saudis to endorse the idea of a negotiated settlement and then asked the Houthis to stop inflicting suffering – which would indeed be a big step.
But there is no hint of any penalty if they don’t (maybe blacklist them?) – and they certainly think they are closer than ever to winning. After all, Biden will not support the Saudis again.
It is more than naive.