Soft power
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The deteriorating security situation previously led to the closure of the US embassy in Sana'a in February and the departure of all US Special Operations trainers in the past two weeks. As plans continue for the possible deployment of Egyptian and Saudi troops as part of Operation Decisive Storm, a significant rethinking of US strategy in Yemen is needed. Washington should take into account the lessons learned from the fight against the Islamic State/ISIS and pursue a coherent strategy to support President Abdu Rabou Mansour Hadi, stabilize the military situation in southern Yemen, and advance negotiations between the warring factions.
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The culture of Yemen is based primarily on the Muslim religion. Medieval Sharia laws and more ancient rules of the tribal system are still honored here. Not infrequently, conflict situations unfold in these places between official representatives of state power and tribal "leaders" - sheikhs.
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The PDRY maintained close relations with the USSR, which became especially stronger after 1978. During the reign of Ali Nasser Mohammed, diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia were restored (1983). Normalization of relations with Iraq, Oman, Egypt, and then Western countries occurred only after the civil war of 1986. With the end of the Cold War, the USSR ceased to play any significant role in the affairs of the PDRY. In October 1987, a border conflict broke out between the PDRY and Oman, which was fully resolved only in May 1997, after the withdrawal of Omani troops and the agreement of both sides to demarcate the border with the participation of representatives of international organizations.
In 1990, diplomatic relations with the United States, broken in 1970, were restored. The YAR, being a non-aligned state, concluded a Friendship Treaty with the USSR in 1964 and extended it in 1984. It also maintained friendly relations with Western countries. In 1989, the YAR, together with Iraq, Egypt and Jordan, joined the Council for Arab Cooperation. Like other Arab countries, the YAR supported Iraq in the war with Iran in 1980-1988.
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