In August 2023, the U.N. completed an operation to remove 1.1 million oil barrels onboard the FSO Safer, a decaying oil supertanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The FSO Safer had been abandoned ever since civil war broke out in Yemen, leaving it at risk for a significant oil spill that would have resulted in environmental, economic and humanitarian catastrophes and required tens of billions of dollars in estimated clean-up costs. The United States played a key role in the FSO Safer operation, which has been lauded for its creative, behind-the-scenes diplomacy and serves as a model for preventing future crises and coordinating across the international system. 

On October 24, USIP hosted a conversation with U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking to unpack the FSO Safer operation. The discussion highlighted the innovative diplomacy approaches taken and shed light on how the operation could serve as a model for reinvigorated American soft power in the Middle East going forward. Special Envoy Lenderking also spoke on the FSO Safer operation in the broader context of Yemen’s peace effort.

Continue the conversation on social media using the hashtag #CreativeDiplomacyUSIP.

Speakers

Timothy Lenderking 
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen

Lise Grande, moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

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