UAE and Iran’s Geopolitical Interests in Yemen: Seeking a Power Balance through The Proxy Wars and the Socotra Island Issue

Yemen, which has been the centre of attention of regional and global power centres for many years due to its geopolitical location, has turned into a failed, weak and divided state due to the conflicts of interest of these actors over Yemen. Foreign powers, which seek to increase their influence in the region through Yemen, have been effective in creating chaos in the country by using local and political groups as proxy actors. In the chaos that emerged, countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have occupied Yemen's territories and strategic islands through indirect and direct interventions using local actors. The ongoing occupation and war in Yemen pose an existential threat to the people and the state. While Iran supports the Houthis operating in North Yemen, the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council is trying to establish an independent structure in the south. For Iran and the UAE, the continuation of the war in Yemen is an important opportunity to guarantee their interests and increase their sphere of influence. Iran's efforts to prolong this exhausting war against the US and Saudi Arabia, the UAE's desire to control the ports in the south of Yemen and islands such as Socotra, and its investments in the Horn of Africa show the desire of both countries to increase their military and economic power in the region. In conclusion, the current situation in Yemen is not only a reflection of the conflicts of interest of regional powers but also a field for global powers' efforts to expand their spheres of influence.