US Secretary of State: Saudi Arabia Has the Right to Defend Itself - Sarmad

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed his country’s commitment to security agreements with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Washington will honor its obligations to the Kingdom amid the ongoing escalation with the Houthi militia in Yemen, and describing the conflict as “dangerous and complex.”

In remarks to Fox News on Monday, Rubio stated that the United States has a “defense agreement with Saudi Arabia,” emphasizing that his country is “determined to fulfill its commitments” under the pact. He affirmed that Washington will always stand by Riyadh and support it if developments escalate into a confrontation threatening its security.

Rubio stressed that the current situation in Yemen constitutes a counterattack against Houthi aggression, reiterating Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defense. He noted that neither Saudi Arabia nor Yemen would accept Houthi control over the Bab al-Mandab strait.

In previous statements, Rubio had emphasized that the United States does not accept international sea lanes becoming areas controlled by armed groups, affirming that freedom of navigation and the flow of goods through international passages are fundamental US and international interests. Rubio accused Iran of being behind part of the Houthi escalation, pointing to an “Iranian hand” behind some of the attacks.

US positions indicate that Washington views Saudi security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea as part of its broader security interests, as pressure mounts on vital sea lanes in the region. Concurrently, the Yemeni government announced a transition to a new military phase aimed at reclaiming areas controlled by the Houthi militia, while state institutions prepare to accompany any ground advances by restoring services and administrative functions to liberated areas.