In April, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with al-Alimi. The White House said at the time, “Secretary Blinken congratulated President al-Alimi on his new position and welcomed the gathering in Aden this week of the Council, Cabinet, House of Representatives and Shura Council. The Secretary underscored the importance of an effective and transparent government that advances efforts to end the Yemeni conflict and protects human rights.”

The US was also focused on Taiz and the need to open up transportation in the country. In late May, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a phone call with al-Alimi. They discussed the UN-brokered truce.

According to a UN statement, “The Secretary-General reaffirmed the close relationship between the United Nations and the Government of Yemen and stressed the need to extend and fully implement all elements of the renewable, two-month nationwide truce in Yemen. The Secretary-General also underscored the critical role of the truce in addressing some of the most immediate humanitarian and economic needs to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, including facilitating the freedom of movement of people and goods to, from and across Yemen.”

This matters for the region, including for the Gulf, the US and for Israel. The Houthis have threatened Israel, and Iran has sought to infiltrate the Red Sea. This has had a destabilizing effect. Iran has mined waters in the area, seized ships and used drones against ships. Providing security and subduing the war in Yemen matters to the entire region. The recent trip provides yet another chance to see if the Gulf and Egypt can bring peace to Yemen.