Inside Story

How will Trump respond to the Senate’s rebuke of Saudi Arabia?

US Senators voted to end support for the Saudi-UAE coalition fighting in Yemen.

The war in Yemen began in late 2014 when Houthi rebels from the north took control of much of the country.

Years of conflict have led to what the United Nations calls the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

The United States‘ Senate has now voted to end all military support to the Saudi-UAE coalition that’s been fighting in Yemen since 2015.

A second resolution blamed Saudi Arabia‘s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Although it is unlikely the House of Representatives will take up the Yemen measure during this Congress, politicians have vowed to bring up the issue again next year. 

If it passes, will President Donald Trump act on his threat to reject the measure?

Presenter: Imran Khan 

Guests:

Fatima Alasrar – senior analyst at the Arabia Foundation in Washington, DC

Hakim Almasmari – political and military mediator, who took part in the recent Yemen talks in Sweden

Natasha Lindstaedt – professor of government at the University of Essex and a specialist in authoritarian governments and US politics