The Southern Transitional Council (STC) is the most organized fighting force in the south of Yemen. Following the onset of the Ansarullah movement’s attacks on commercial shipping, starting in Nov. 2023, the STC has been actively positioning itself on the global stage as a disciplined defender against the group—better known as the Houthis—and as a key player in securing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

However, despite support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the STC still lacks full endorsement from any permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the...