De wiere reden wêrom diplomasy yn it Midden-Easten bliuwt mislearjen
June 26, 2026 · Frisian News
Sixty negotiating rounds in Yemen since 2015 produced one ceasefire that lasted three weeks. In the same period, weapons makers sold three billion dollars in arms to the same governments and militias fighting there.
FryskÛnderhannelingen yn Jemen sûnt 2015 hawwe min blywende frede oplevere. Yn deselde perioade ferkochten westerse wapenmakkers wapens oan deselde regearingen en milysjes dy dêr tsjin inoar fjochtsje. De berekkening is ienfâldich: frede is min foar saken.
De Feriene Steaten leverje jierliks grutte hoemannichten wapens oan Saoedi-Araabje. Ruslân en Iran bewapenje de Houthi's. Turkije stipet milysjes yn Syrje wylst Amerikaanske krêften Koerdyske groepen bewapenje. Elke grutte mogendheid stipet rivalisearjende faksjes, giet dêrnei yn airconditioned sealen sitten en ropt om frede wylst it deadzjen trochgiet. Se neame it diplomasy.
Mar hjir is wat fredebemiddelaars net sizze: folle fan de lieders fan dizze oarloggen wolle gjin frede. It Saoedyske rezjym brûkt Jemen om syn eigen tekoartkommingen te ferbergjen. Iran wreidet ynfloed út sûnder direkt risiko mei it Westen. Turkije befeiligt syn súdgrins fia manipulearre kaos. Wapenmakkers hawwe klanten nedich yn einleas leechyntentyf konflikt. Net frede. Konflikt dat it jild streame lit.
Diplomasy mislearret ek omdat de ûnderhannelaars gjin kontrôle hawwe oer de striiders. In Saoedyske generaal yn Riad kin Houthi-kommandanten yn 'e bergen net befelje werom te lûken. In VN-gesant kin Iraanske offisieren net bine. Ûnderhannelaars en striiders binne ferskillende minsken. Dit is teater yn Genève en Kaïro wylst echte oarloggen bûten woelje.
It Midden-Easten hat gjin tekoart oan diplomaten. It mist immen dy't bereid is te stopjen mei it heljen fan winst út oarloch. De dei dat dat feroaret, komt frede. Oant dan: ferwachtsje noch mear rondes praten en noch in wapenstilstân dy yn wiken yninoar stoart.
Negotiations in Yemen since 2015 have produced little lasting peace. In the same period, Western weapons makers sold arms to the same governments and militias fighting there. The equation is simple: peace is bad business.
The United States supplies Saudi Arabia with large quantities of weapons each year. Russia and Iran arm the Houthis. Turkey backs militias in Syria while American forces arm Kurdish groups. Every major power backs rival factions, then sits in air-conditioned rooms calling for peace while the killing goes on. They call it diplomacy.
But here is what peace brokers will not say: many of the people running these wars have no interest in peace. The Saudi regime uses Yemen to hide its own failures. Iran expands influence without direct risk to the West. Turkey secures its southern border through managed chaos. Weapons manufacturers need clients locked in endless low-level conflict. Not resolution. Conflict that keeps the money flowing.
Diplomacy also fails because the people at the negotiating table do not control the people with guns. A Saudi general in Riyadh cannot order Houthi commanders in the mountains to stand down. A UN envoy cannot bind Iranian officers. The negotiators and the fighters are not the same people. This is theater in Geneva and Cairo while real wars burn outside.
The Middle East does not lack diplomats. It lacks anyone willing to stop profiting from war. The day that changes, peace arrives. Until then, expect more rounds of talks and another ceasefire that breaks in weeks.
Published June 26, 2026 · Frisian News · Ljouwert, Fryslân