Trump's veto of Yemen war bill is strategic: UAE

Abu Dhabi - Our support is to protect the safety of Americans in coalition states: Trump

The UAE on Wednesday hailed as "strategic" President Donald Trump's veto of a resolution from Congress directing him to end US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
"President Trump's assertion of support to the Arab Coalition in Yemen is a positive signal of US resolve towards America's allies," Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash tweeted. "President Trump's important decision is both timely & strategic," said Dr Gargash.
The veto was only the second of Trump's presidency, after he overrode a congressional resolution that aimed to reverse the border emergency he declared in order to secure more funding for his wall between the United States and Mexico in March.
The resolution by Congress was a harsh bipartisan rebuke to Trump that took the historic step of curtailing a president's war-making powers - a step he condemned in a statement announcing his veto.
"This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future," Trump said.
Democrats argued that US involvement in the Yemen conflict - through intelligence-sharing, logistical support and now-discontinued aerial refuelling - is unconstitutional without congressional authority.
Trump argued that US support for the devastating war between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa, was necessary for a variety of reasons, "first and foremost" to "protect the safety of the more than 80,000 Americans who reside in certain coalition countries."
The president said the resolution would also "harm the foreign policy of the United States" and "harm our bilateral relationships".

• Abu Dhabi