News – Yemen: Yemeni political analysts say the recent visit of the British Minister of State to Aden underscores London’s continued involvement in the war on Yemen and reflects renewed ambitions to restore its colonial influence in the south.

In exclusive remarks to Al-Masirah TV, political writer and analyst Talib Al-Hassani stated that Britain views itself as the primary “guardian” of Aden, noting that its visit comes within a broader effort to consolidate its leverage in Yemen. He stressed that London has played a central role in the aggression since its outset, supplying massive weapons deals to the Saudi-led coalition and deploying thousands of British officers and technicians to operate and maintain fighter jets in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Hassani added that Britain is also deeply involved in drafting UN resolutions related to sanctions and the blockade on Yemen, in close coordination with the United States, to preserve Western influence and secure economic interests. He emphasized that reliance on mercenaries remains limited, as these groups cannot confront Yemen’s naval and air forces and are largely restricted to coastal duties and operational tasks serving foreign agendas.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Taher Anam, adviser to the Supreme Political Council, characterized the British minister’s visit as an attempt to “revive colonialism” in Yemen by exploiting Yemeni mercenary groups willing to serve foreign powers, including the Israeli enemy. He explained that London was surprised to find a small segment of Yemenis prepared to work under foreign sponsorship—an outcome of years of Saudi and Emirati intelligence operations.

Anam said Britain, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE seek to use these mercenary factions to secure Western strategic interests, especially maritime routes and areas vacated by British and American forces in the Red Sea. However, he noted that internal disputes in occupied regions—such as Aden, Mukalla, Ash-Shihr, and Hadramout—underscore the fragility of relying on these groups.

He concluded that Western powers aim to obstruct Yemen’s path toward sovereignty and national revival, but internal discord among mercenaries serves to undermine the objectives of the aggression and accelerates its failure.

Britain has maintained an active role in the war on Yemen through arms sales, military personnel, and diplomatic efforts shaping sanctions and blockade policies. The British minister’s visit to Aden comes as part of a renewed UK push to expand its military role in southern Yemen. 

In recent weeks, London has intensified support for the UAE–Saudi–backed Coast Guard units, pledging new financial aid and offering training aimed at boosting their presence in the Red Sea. British officials say the goal is to “protect international shipping,” though the move is widely viewed as preparation for confronting the Yemeni Armed Forces, whose operations have targeted only Israeli-linked vessels in response to the war on Gaza.

The visit also follows the failure of the joint US-UK campaign in 2023 to secure Israeli-linked ships' access in the Red Sea, prompting Britain to reestablish influence in Aden. Analysts say the stepped-up British activity underscores deeper coordination between the Aden authorities and the Israeli enemy, reflecting broader Western efforts to remilitarize the region after repeated setbacks.