New Geopolitics Research

New Geopolitics Research

A Comparative Analysis of the Geopolitical Interests of Major Powers in the Yemen Crisis (2013–2023) (A Case Study: The United States, Russia, and China)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Amirreza Moghavemi 1
emad helalat 2
Mohamad Mohamadi Sani 3
hamid hakim 4
1 Researcher and PhD student in Middle Eastern Studies at Imam Hossein Comprehensive University, Tehran, Iran.
2 PhD student in International Relations at Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
3 PhD student of Middle East Studies, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor of International Relations at Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/nrpg.2.1.6
Abstract
International powers pursue their interests not merely at the national or regional level, but on a global scale. Despite Yemen’s lack of political and economic development, as well as its security challenges and complex sectarian dynamics, its unique geopolitical and geostrategic position renders it inherently significant in the international system. As a result, Yemen remains a focal point for both regional and global powers. This study aims to address the following question: What geopolitical interests do the three major international powers—the United States, China, and Russia—pursue in the Yemen crisis? The research hypothesis posits that, despite various political and economic motivations, the primary objectives of these great powers in Yemen are fundamentally driven by the country’s geopolitical and geostrategic advantages. The findings indicate that the United States, seeking to maintain its global influence and control over international maritime routes, while countering the strategies of its rivals, requires dominance over Yemen and the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The People's Republic of China, whose strategic interests in West Asia revolve around energy security and maritime freedom, views stability in Yemen as crucial for sustaining its economic growth and advancing the broader Belt and Road Initiative. Similarly, Russia—like other global powers, particularly its traditional rival, the United States—considers the presence in international waterways and strategic locations, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, essential for enhancing its geopolitical leverage and competing with its adversaries.
Keywords
Yemen crisis
geopolitical interests
United States
China
Russia
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New Geopolitics Research
Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 3
September 2025
Pages 109-128