Résumé:
This dissertation investigates and delves into the development of the US-Yemeni
relationship throughout history. It also focuses on the foreign policies of Presidents Barack
Obama and Donald Trump in Yemen taking in consideration the geopolitical and economic
aspects that have shaped this relationship. The latter is affected by nearby countries,
natural resources, strategic objectives, counterterrorism, and alliances that have shaped the
diplomatic relations. An important part of this work highlights Yemen's political instability
and the ongoing civil conflict, and discusses the reasons and consequences of this struggle.
The existence of extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has
made Yemen a central concern and the main interest of the United States' counterterrorism
policy as it was seen as the hot spot of terrorist groups. These factors influenced how
presidents dealt with the issue following different policies. Under Obama‟s presidency, the
United States focused on launching drone strikes and little diplomatic involvement, but
also on providing assistance for the Saudi-led coalition as the Houthis‟ movement captured
the attention in the region. Years later, the Trump Administration emphasized its strategy
in Yemen on increasing weapons sales to Gulf partners while limiting the diplomatic
concerns and ignoring the casualties. By comparing these two administrations and the
strategies they maintained, the study concludes a shift from cautious international
cooperation to a powerful and aggressive militarism method, concentrating on the
consequences on Yemen's national stability.
