An Analysis of Yemen’s Geostrategic Significance and Saudi-Iranian Competition for Regional Hegemony

Abstract

The geographical location of Yemen holds significant importance, as it offers various strategic, political, and economic benefits to regional and international stakeholders with competing interests. Yemen’s position in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and other strategic islands gives it a direct vantage point on the Strait of Bab al-Mandab, which serves as a key gateway connecting the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, thus controlling major trade and oil routes between the East and the West. Consequently, Yemen has become a battleground for competing regional powers seeking to assert their dominance. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been vying for control over Yemen’s strategic location to consolidate their regional influence and superiority. This article aims to examine the strategic importance of Yemen and the ambitions of Saudi Arabia and Iran that underline their interventions in Yemen.