U.S. Policy Shifts Under The Biden Administration
U.S. policy toward the Houthis has shifted significantly since 2021, reflecting changes in leadership and evolving regional dynamics. Under the Biden administration, the initial approach focused on reversing Trump-era policies, including the removal of the Houthis’ designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in February 2021. This decision aimed to facilitate humanitarian aid to Yemen alongside a diplomatic push to end the war.
The administration appointed Tim Lenderking as a special envoy for Yemen and emphasized humanitarian relief and diplomacy while ending U.S. support for Saudi-led coalition offensive operations in Yemen.
However, as the Houthis escalated their activities, the Biden administration adjusted its stance between 2023 and 2024.
In December 2023, it launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter Houthi maritime attacks and carried out airstrikes on Houthi military targets. In January 2024, the Houthis were redesignated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, and sanctions were expanded to target Houthi-related individuals and entities. By October 2024, the administration adopted a “deter and degrade” strategy, conducting targeted strikes on Houthi-controlled weapons facilities to curb their aggression.
In January 2025, the Trump administration took a more hardline approach by re-designating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization through an executive order. This decision reversed the Biden administration’s earlier policy and aimed to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and disrupt their operations. It also directed a review of international organizations and contractors operating in Yemen.
International Reactions To Trump’s Decision
International reactions to President Trump’s decision to re-designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) have been mixed, highlighting a divide between political and humanitarian concerns. Israel welcomed the move, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar calling it a significant step in combating terrorism and countering destabilizing forces in the region. Yemen’s internationally recognized government also praised the decision, with Rashad al-Alimi, head of the presidential council, describing it as crucial for holding the Houthis accountable and achieving peace and stability in Yemen and the broader region.
However, humanitarian organizations have raised strong concerns about the decision’s potential impact on Yemen’s ongoing crisis. Oxfam America criticized the move, warning it would exacerbate the suffering of Yemenis by worsening economic conditions, increasing hunger, and spreading disease. Abdulwasea Mohammed from Oxfam in Yemen cautioned that the designation could disrupt remittances to people in Houthi-controlled areas and potentially push the country’s economy into freefall.
The Houthis themselves have not officially responded to the re-designation, but Abdul Rahman al-Ahnumi, a leader of Houthi-controlled media, suggested that if the decision negatively affects Yemenis, it would be seen as an escalation of war, prompting a potential response. The international community remains divided over the designation, with supporters seeing it as necessary for counterterrorism and critics warning of its severe humanitarian consequences.
Implications of the Re-Designation
President Trump’s decision to redesignate Yemen’s Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) carries significant consequences across humanitarian, economic, political, and diplomatic fronts. The humanitarian impact is particularly concerning, as over 18 million people in Yemen currently rely on assistance.
The designation could disrupt imports of essential goods like food, medicine, and fuel, while also hindering remittances to Yemenis in Houthi-controlled areas. Aid organizations may face increased challenges, with exemptions unlikely to fully offset the immediate negative effects, potentially forcing some groups to scale back operations.
Economically, the decision risks pushing Yemen’s already fragile economy into freefall. Banks in Houthi-controlled regions may face operational hurdles, while the Yemeni currency could see further devaluation. Politically, the move could disrupt the peace process, with plans to resume negotiations among Yemen’s warring parties indefinitely postponed. The UN envoy’s efforts may become more complicated, and Saudi Arabia’s pledge to pay public sector salaries in Houthi-controlled areas could be jeopardized, potentially threatening the UN-sponsored truce in Yemen.
The Houthis may view the designation as a response to their support for Palestine rather than their attacks on international trade. On the policy front, USAID will now have to terminate partnerships with any entities that have engaged with the Houthis, and the Secretary of State has a limited timeframe to implement the designation fully.
Of course, none of this justifies the existence of the terrorist organization. Rather, it shows us the far-reaching negative effects they have caused by their outlaw actions.
Summing Up
The re-designation of the Houthi movement as a Foreign Terrorist Organization underscores the U.S. government’s resolve to address escalating threats in the Middle East. While intended to curb the group’s aggressive actions and limit Iran’s regional influence, the move unfortunately carries significant implications for Yemen’s humanitarian situation and the broader geopolitical landscape.
Still, it is a move in the right direction toward the goal of peace.
COMMENTS