Trump Sheds Bully’s Skin with Houthi Retreat, China Bend
US President Donald Trump and military campaign against the Houthis (Image credit X.com)
Trump’s Houthi Retreat and India’s Pakistan Strikes Cast Doubt on US Arms Credibility
By Manish Anand
NEW DELHI, May 13, 2025 – President Donald Trump’s abrupt ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthis and India’s bold strikes on Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase have exposed vulnerabilities in US military technology and strategy. As Pakistani media report unverified claims of radiation leaks at the airbase, Middle East experts frame the US-Houthi deal as a retreat, raising questions about the reliability of American arms, including F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, and Trump’s global influence.
Trump’s Operation Rough Rider, launched on March 15, 2025, targeted over 1,000 Houthi sites in Yemen but ended in a ceasefire on May 7, 2025, mediated by Oman. Far from a victory, the deal has been widely criticized as a capitulation. A New York Times report, citing US intelligence, revealed that Houthi air defences—likely bolstered by Russian technology—came close to hitting F-35 jets, America’s most advanced fighters. The Houthis’ ability to withstand US firepower has stunned military analysts.
Middle East geopolitical commentators have been scathing. Beth Sanner, former deputy director of US National Intelligence, stated in January 2025, “The Houthis are not retreating, and military escalation will not end their attacks.” Post-ceasefire, Spencer Ackerman posted on X, “The Houthis won. An escalation justified on deterrence has showcased US weakness.” Ali al-Makhtouri, a Houthi ideologue, declared, “The US realized it’s in a losing battle,” a sentiment echoed by Houthi leader Abdulsalam on X. Emily Milliken of the Atlantic Council told Newsweek, “The Houthis remain undeterred, with their leadership intact.”
The financial toll also forced Trump’s hand. The New York Times reported that Operation Rough Rider cost over $1 billion, straining US resources amid concerns about potential deployments to protect Taiwan. Farea al-Muslimi and Thomas Juneau of Chatham House cautioned in April 2025, “Washington must avoid acting in Yemen without regional allies like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.” Yemen analyst Mohammed al-Basha warned in The Atlantic, “If the Houthis withstand this campaign, they could emerge politically stronger.”
India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike on May 10, 2025, targeted Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, among others, following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Significant damage and unverified claims of radiation leaks are doing the rounds on the social media platforms.
These allegations, though unconfirmed, highlight the strike’s proximity to Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, raising concerns about nuclear infrastructure. Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, supplied by the US, remained defensive, unable to counter India’s precision strikes, according to a press briefing by India’s Director General of Military Operations.
The Houthi conflict and India’s strikes expose vulnerabilities in US military technology. The F-35’s near misses in Yemen and the F-16’s ineffectiveness against India undermine confidence in American arms, potentially impacting sales to allies like India. Trump’s retreat from Yemen, coupled with his perceived concessions to China in trade negotiations, weakens his negotiating leverage with Iran and other adversaries.
A South China Morning Post report quoted a Chinese State Council white paper, “China’s National Security in the New Era,” warning that “Cold War legacy problems could be reheated, complicated by external meddling.” The US military’s reluctance to overcommit resources in Yemen reflects strategic priorities shifting toward Taiwan, as noted by The Atlantic and Newsweek.
Trump’s bombastic claims of victory cannot mask these setbacks. The Houthis’ resilience, backed by Iranian weapons and reported Russian support, and India’s success against Pakistan’s US-equipped defences signal a decline in American military prestige. As Pakistani media amplify radiation fears and Middle East experts critique US policy, Trump risks losing his reputation as a decisive leader, with far-reaching consequences for US arms credibility and geopolitical influence.
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