Yemen Conflict: U.S. Strategy Using Ends, Ways, and Means
This paper applies the ends, ways, and means strategic framework to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, examining U.S. policy options in the context of a complex regional proxy war. The paper outlines the key actors — including Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran — and identifies the desired end state as a negotiated peace that prevents broader regional destabilization. It then considers the ways the U.S. might pursue that goal, including expanded military support, diplomatic engagement, and infrastructure investment, before assessing the means — military, diplomatic, and financial resources — required to execute such a strategy effectively.
- Introduction: Introduces the ends, ways, and means framework
- Background on the Yemen Conflict: Overview of key actors and escalating tensions
- Ends: Defining U.S. Objectives: Peace, stability, and containing regional proxy conflict
- Ways: Military and Diplomatic Approaches: Military support, diplomacy, and negotiated settlements
- Means: Resources Required: Military assets, negotiators, and reconstruction funds
- Conclusion: Call for active U.S. military and diplomatic engagement
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- Applies a clear, well-established strategic framework (ends, ways, and means) to organize a complex geopolitical issue, making the argument easy to follow.
- Draws on multiple credible news and policy sources to substantiate claims about the evolving dynamics between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Houthi rebels.
- Balances short-term military considerations with longer-term development and infrastructure arguments, demonstrating awareness of root causes rather than just symptoms.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates strategic framing — using an established analytical model (ends, ways, and means) to impose structure on a multi-actor conflict. This technique is common in military studies and international relations and shows how a single organizing framework can transform a messy real-world issue into a coherent policy argument. Each section builds logically on the last, linking objectives to actions to resources.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief methodological introduction, followed by background context on the Yemen conflict and its key players. Three body sections map directly onto the strategic framework: ends (desired outcomes), ways (methods of achieving them), and means (required resources). A conclusion synthesizes the argument and calls for active U.S. engagement. This tight alignment between framework and structure is the paper's primary organizational strength.
Introduction
The ends, ways, and means framework is a method for understanding what the objective is for a particular issue (ends), how that objective will be achieved (ways), and what resources will be required to make it happen (means). This methodology is commonly applied in military and international relations contexts, where issues can be highly complex, as the framework simplifies strategy by focusing on desired outcomes (Eikmeier, 2007). The following paper applies this framework to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, one of the most pressing security issues in the Middle East and Africa region.
Background on the Yemen Conflict
There are several issues in the Middle East worthy of attention, one of which is the ongoing conflict in Yemen. While Yemen has long been engaged in conflict, the situation has become more pressing in recent years. Houthi rebels engaged in conflict near the Saudi border, drawing Saudi Arabia into the fight. This became a front in the Saudi-Iran proxy war, as the Houthi rebels are predominantly Shia. Western powers have traditionally backed Saudi Arabia in this conflict (BBC, 2018).
The conflict appears to have spiraled out of control and may be contributing to a rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While the two nations have been allies for much of this conflict, each is using it as a means of extending influence and power in the region. Longstanding tensions have resulted in a lack of coordinated control and have raised the risk of greater regional destabilization (al-Mujahed & Raghavan, 2018). The UAE is backing Sunni rebels, while Saudi Arabia is not only fighting the Houthis but also supporting the Hadi government in its conflict with the UAE-backed rebels (al-Mujahed & Raghavan, 2018).
Ends: Defining U.S. Objectives
The conflict in Yemen matters because it has drawn in other regional powers. In addition to Saudi Arabia, Iran has been pulled into the fight as part of its ongoing rivalry with Riyadh for regional dominance. The United Arab Emirates is reported to be supporting a partition of Yemen, using the conflict as a means to advance its own power in the region (Al Jazeera, 2018). If the conflict remains contained within Yemen, there are significant human costs and serious risks associated with the security vacuum in that country. Should the conflict spread beyond Yemen's borders, the broader region could be severely destabilized (BBC, 2018).
Bringing about a peaceful resolution to this conflict should be the primary end that the U.S. seeks. There is no sweeping military victory to be won here — the objective in Yemen should be to contain the risk of regional destabilization. In particular, tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE need to be calmed, as both are strategically important allies in the war against terrorism and serve as counterbalances to Iranian power in the Middle East.
Conclusion
There is an opportunity today for the U.S. to use its influence — both military and diplomatic — to bring the different sides of the Yemen conflict to negotiated settlements. The desired end state in Yemen is peace and stability, because the current conflict raises the specter not only of intensifying Saudi-Iran tensions, but also of bringing Saudi-UAE tensions to a head. The latter scenario must be avoided, as it would destabilize much of the Arabian Peninsula and threaten the regional oil industry. Now is the time for more active U.S. involvement, both militarily and diplomatically, to prevent this conflict from becoming worse and more destructive at the regional level.
References
Al Jazeera. (2018). Yemen's complicated war just got more complicated. Al Jazeera News. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/yemen-complicated-war-complicated-180129114613553.html
Al-Mujahed, A., & Raghavan, S. (2018). Yemen's war is so out of control, allies are turning on one another. Washington Post. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/yemens-war-is-so-out-of-control-that-allies-are-turning-on-one-another/2018/02/03/50d26426-05fe-11e8-aa61-f3391373867e_story.html
BBC. (2018). Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom? BBC. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423
Eikmeier, D. (2007). A logical method for center-of-gravity analysis. Military Review. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/military-review/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20071031_art009.pdf
RT. (2018). US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen will reduce civilian casualties, Mattis tells Senate. RT.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from https://www.rt.com/usa/421553-mattis-us-aid-saudi-yemen/
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.