ISTANBUL

Egypt said on Tuesday it is closely following developments in Yemen, voicing confidence that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will handle their differences with wisdom.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed “full confidence” that Saudi Arabia and the UAE will deal with current developments wisely, “in a spirit of brotherhood, unity and shared Arab destiny during this sensitive phase for Yemen and the region.”

It expressed “deep appreciation for the constructive handling of the situation by the Saudi and Emirati leaderships, and their keenness to support stability in Yemen and preserve its sovereignty and the interests of its people.”

Cairo affirmed it will continue its ongoing contacts with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemeni parties, and other regional and international stakeholders to help reduce tensions and pave the way for a comprehensive political settlement that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people for security, prosperity, and stability, and supports regional security.

The situation has escalated in southern Yemen early this month after the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the country’s main separatist group, took control of the eastern provinces of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra after clashes with government forces.

The escalation spiked further early Tuesday, with Saudi Arabia calling the UAE’s actions “a threat to its national security.”

In response, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi cancelled a joint defense pact with the UAE and gave a 24-hour deadline for the UAE forces to withdraw.

The STC repeatedly claims that successive governments have politically and economically marginalized southern regions and calls for their separation from the north — claims rejected by the Yemeni authorities, as they insist on preserving the country’s territorial unity.