How Yemen Became and Has Remained a Territory of Strategic Importance

Abstract

Yemen has been at the center of geopolitical and economic rivalries for at least the colonial era, and this literature-based thesis shows the continued strategic importance of the country. We will also analyze the strategic significance of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen from the historical past. It is imperative to examine geopolitical factors involved in Yemen's regional relations, especially those of Saudi Arabia and Iran, given their complexity. Due to its strategic location along the Bab al-Mandab strait, Yemen has played an important role in geopolitics in the region. This is followed by a critical comparison of arguments and theories. This leads to a substantive dialogue concerning the background of geopolitics and the major arguments that are introduced. Following the introduction, a literature review will provide a more comprehensive overview of the research topic. A critical evaluation of the arguments and theories, together with a background on Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition, will be included in the review.

This will be followed by a discussion of the objectives, questions, and main findings. A discussion of the research methods and methodology will follow. We will conclude the research with a preliminary conclusion. While my research questions are answered through a review of theory, I will nevertheless rely largely on qualitative research based on secondary data in this thesis, such as previous research regarding Yemen in different nations and states.