United Kingdom–Yemen relations
United Kingdom |
Yemen |
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United Kingdom–Yemen relations have existed since the independence of
Relations are quite complex, including British colonialism, the Yemeni Civil War, geostrategy, and counter-terrorism. The United Kingdom is a longstanding donor to the humanitarian relief effort in Yemen and provides training to the Saudi and Yemeni forces in order to combat the Houthi rebels.[3][4]
The United Kingdom has a non-resident ambassador in Muscat. Yemen has an embassy in London.
History
19th and 20th century
Yemenis arrived in the United Kingdom as early as 1860, making them the longest-established Arab community in the United Kingdom.[5] Tensions after World War I led to Yemenis rioting in South Shields alongside others. As a result, many were deported back to Yemen, which perhaps was a great downfall in the relationship between the Yemenis and the United Kingdom.
Yemenis then began leaving the United Kingdom, possibly due to the reunification of Yemen. Saudi Arabia was normally the best destination for Yemenis trying to leave the United Kingdom. However, as a result of the Gulf War, Saudi Arabia expelled over a million Yemeni workers, sharply deteriorating Saudi-Yemeni relations.[6] This consequently led to the United Kingdom receiving a large number of Yemenis from Saudi Arabia. Today, approximately 80,000 reside in the United Kingdom, with the majority living in Birmingham.[7]
21st century
Following 9/11, the United Kingdom provided Yemen with counter-terrorism training to deal with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, but instructors officially withdrew in 2015 when the British embassy had to close due to the war breaking out. Furthermore, Saudi and Western forces, including British forces have been accused of operating at an eastern airport in Yemen.[8] When Britain’s ambassador Michael Aron was repeatedly questioned over these allegations, he did not deny them, stating these forces were sent in order to “support efforts of fighting terrorism and smuggling.” These allegations have been confirmed, and the reason for the British Special Forces’ deployment in Eastern Yemen was to “track down the Houthi perpetrators of a tanker attack.”[9]
Despite their long history, relations today have been quite tense. The United Kingdom has been supplying the
Economic relations
As of 2022, the UK exported goods to Yemen worth 48 million pounds. In return, the UK imported goods from Yemen worth 5 million pounds.[13] This is a visible increase from 2021, where the UK exported goods to Yemen worth 23 million pounds, while importing 1 million pounds in return.[14] Due to the civil war in Yemen, which has limited the country’s trade and impacted its relations with other countries, it is the UK’s joint 167th largest trading partner. This is due to the UK’s financial sanctions placed on Yemen.[15]
See also
References
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "British Embassy Sana'a - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ AOAV (2022-07-15). "UK Special Forces Operations: Yemen (incl. Djibouti)". AOAV. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "Continuity and change in British foreign policy toward Yemen". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "Yemeni community research guide | Sheffield City Council". www.sheffield.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ "Yemeni community research guide | Sheffield City Council". www.sheffield.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ Curtis, Naseh Shaker, Phil Miller and Mark (2021-07-06). "DECLASSIFIED UK: Revealed: UK troops 'secretly operating in Yemen'". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ AOAV (2022-07-15). "UK Special Forces Operations: Yemen (incl. Djibouti)". AOAV. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "Inside Yemen's forgotten war". BBC News. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "UK Aid and Arms in Yemen". Oxfam Policy & Practice. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "Continuity and change in British foreign policy toward Yemen". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ "UK total trade: all countries, non-seasonally adjusted - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ "Financial sanctions, Yemen". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
External links
- Media related to Relations of the United Kingdom and Yemen at Wikimedia Commons