Washington: The Obama administration will provide more counterterror and development aid to embattled Yemen, but the country must show results for assistance to continue to flow, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.
After meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Qirbi at the State Department, Clinton told reporters the United States was pleased with actions the Yemeni government was taking to combat violent extremists, including Al Qaida.
Yemen is emerging as a central focus in the fight against violent extremists, and the United States has ramped up both military and civilian aid to the country over the past year.
Clinton's remarks reflect the administration's rising worry about the crisis facing the impoverished country and a US decision to raise Yemen as a priority on its foreign policy agenda.
"To combat this growing threat, the United States will intensify its cooperation with Yemen on both security and development," Clinton said.
Willingness
"Yemen has demonstrated a willingness and a capacity to take action against Al Qaida and other extremist groups, and the United States commends these actions."
She did not detail the enhanced assistance but noted the United States currently has a three-year, $121 million (Dh444.3 million) development and economic aid programme with Yemen.
