The deputy prime minister of Yemen's UN-recognised government on Tuesday welcomed Donald Trump's return to the presidency of the United States, saying it was a critical turning point in reining in the Iran-backed Houthis who he said threatened regional stability and maritime security.

Aidaroos Al-Zubaidi told Reuters that Trump's strong leadership and willingness to use military force contrasted sharply with the Biden administration, which he said had allowed the Houthis to consolidate their power, enhance their military capabilities, and expand their reach beyond Yemen.

Al-Zubaidi said in an interview on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos: “Trump knows what he wants. He is a strong decision-maker.”

He said, “We are fans, admirers, and supporters of Trump’s policy... because he has a personality that has enough decision-making power to rule America and the world,” adding that he expects talks with the next administration to begin soon.

While the Houthis control northwest Yemen, where most of its 23 million people live, the rest of the region is controlled by the Southern Transitional Council, which wants independence for southern Yemen and has the support of the United Arab Emirates.

Al-Zubaidi heads the armed group that holds three seats in the eight-member Presidential Leadership Council, the Aden-based coalition government that opposes the Houthis.

He said that the unification of Yemen is still far-fetched, and called for the establishment of two states as was the case before 1990, when southern Yemen was separated from its north.

“When we become two states, the conflict will be resolved,” he said, adding that there is a need for a coordinated international, regional and local strategy led by the United States to strike and weaken the Houthis and stop their attacks against Western commercial ships sailing through the Red Sea.

The Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with drones and missile strikes last year, in what they said was solidarity with the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Before Trump's inauguration on Monday, Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said their attacks in the Red Sea would be limited to Israeli ships only after the start of the Gaza ceasefire, but strikes may resume if the situation changes.

Al-Zubaidi added, "We hope that America will have the motivation to deter the Houthis because they will continue to threaten maritime navigation and they are the greatest threat, and the Houthis are part of an international coalition led by Iran, Russia, and China."