Yemen: Joint US-British activities in the occupied province of Hadramaut are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, raising questions about the nature of this growing presence and whether Washington and London are seeking to entrench long-term control over the region’s strategic territory. Some political observers even suggest that Washington’s ambitions extend further—dreaming of turning the area into a de facto American territory.

New US deployments have been reported across the oil- and gas-rich province, particularly at Al-Rayyan Airport and in the Hadramaut Valley’s oil facilities. Residents confirm the presence of American forces equipped with surveillance technology, radar systems, and advanced intelligence equipment, amid ongoing efforts to reactivate the airport as a closed military base. Eyewitnesses say military cargo planes land regularly near the Masila oil fields, with US security teams stationed inside production and storage zones.

Analysts say Washington’s expanding footprint goes far beyond the decades-old pretext of “counterterrorism,” revealing a clear aim: securing control over Yemen’s vast energy resources and strategic access to the Arabian Sea. This includes influence over Al-Dhabbah port, a key export hub for Hadramaut’s oil, along with dominating maritime routes stretching from the Arabian Sea to Bab al-Mandab. US forces are reportedly constructing a network of small, low-visibility bases operated by limited personnel supported by advanced surveillance systems—part of a long-term plan to secure uninterrupted oversight over global shipping routes.

Shared US–Saudi Interests

US diplomatic visits, including those by former ambassador Steven Fagin—recently appointed to a Gaza-related post—have underscored Washington's heightened interest in Hadramaut, which remains under Saudi-UAE occupation and governed through local proxies.

Observers note that Fagin’s meetings with Hadrami tribal leaders and pro-aggression figures were part of coordinated US-Saudi efforts to redraw the region’s political landscape, potentially paving the way for separating Hadramaut from Yemen. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s revived “Eastern Region” or “Hadramaut State” project—now backed by direct US involvement.

Sources reveal ongoing secret talks between Riyadh and loyal Hadrami factions, under American supervision, aimed at restructuring local governance in a way that expands US access while helping Saudi Arabia pursue its long-held ambition to annex the oil-rich Thamud region.

Analysts say this growing presence aligns with US-Israeli strategic goals in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, particularly as Washington deepens its military coordination with the Israeli enemy across these sensitive waterways.

Britain Joins the Race

Washington is not acting alone. The UK has stepped onto the field with renewed vigor. British Ambassador Abda Al-Sharif recently held high-level meetings in Riyadh with pro-aggression Yemeni officials under the banner of “discussing Hadramaut affairs.” Observers say this diplomatic language masks a longstanding British interest in the region’s oil and gas wealth and its strategic maritime position.

London is seeking to re-establish an eastern Yemen foothold, especially as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have opened the door to foreign influence. British ambitions in Hadramaut date back to the 1960s when the colonial government partnered with Pan American to survey massive oil reserves in Thamud. Since then, the province has remained a target of Western competition, while Saudi Arabia has repeatedly attempted to expand its borders into Hadramaut’s desert.

As Washington continues to reinforce its military presence, the Saudi-UAE coalition is offering extensive logistical and political support to US forces in pursuit of influence and financial gains—posing a direct threat, analysts say, to the province’s sovereignty and future.

Authorities in Sana’a affirm that Hadramaut is now facing a fully fledged American occupation and reiterate that Yemenis will not accept any foreign presence on their land, insisting that confronting this occupation is a national duty equal to resisting aggression in other parts of the country.

Hadramaut has long been a focal point of foreign interest due to its vast oil and gas reserves, its proximity to the Arabian Sea, and its strategic ports. Since the Saudi-UAE occupation began in 2015, the province has been central to regional and international competition, with the US and UK expanding their footprint under various security pretexts while pushing political arrangements that weaken Yemeni sovereignty and entrench foreign control.

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