UAE vice president meets Saudi Crown Prince in first Riyadh visit since rift

UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and met with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the kingdom's defence minister. This is the first visit by a senior UAE official to the kingdom since a deep rift emerged between the two Gulf powers last year.

Why did the UAE vice president visit Saudi Arabia?

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan traveled to Riyadh following an invitation from the Saudi defense minister to mend bilateral relations and address regional security. The high-level meetings focused on strengthening defense cooperation and reviewing fraternal ties as both Gulf nations navigate escalating military pressures and past political disagreements, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman extended the formal invitation as Riyadh faces intense military pressure from Iran-backed Houthi forces. Earlier in the day, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received Al Nahyan, Saudi state media reported, as Saudi Arabia faces increasing pressure from the Houthis, who have fired salvos of missiles and drones at the kingdom.

The United Arab Emirates was once the main regional partner for Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis. Sheikh Mansour and Prince Khalid discussed topics of mutual interest during their initial meeting. Saudi defense ministry stated on X that the leaders explored specific ways to enhance defense cooperation and coordination between the two countries.

Sheikh Mansour, in ⁠a separate meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, reviewed the "fraternal relations" between the two countries and developments in the region, the Saudi state news agency reported.

What is causing the escalation with the Houthis in Yemen?

The Houthis have controlled the capital of Yemen since 2014. The group recently seized the country's Red Sea coast in a lightning advance. This rapid military movement routed the forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and based in the south.

Saudi Arabia has launched hundreds of airstrikes in recent days on the fighter positions in the highlands, according to Houthi reports. However, the air power advantage has so far done little to slow the advance of the fighters. The Saudi-backed government forces have largely melted away during the recent onslaught.