Pakistan, Jan. 27 -- Even in a quarrel, Gulf capitals rarely slam doors. They lower their voices and raise their conditions. That is the register in which Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are now speaking. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan says the kingdom remains "always keen" on a "strong, positive relationship" with the UAE. Still, he has also made future warmth contingent on what Saudi Arabia regards as the decisive test: a complete Emirati withdrawal from Yemen. The UAE's foreign ministry has already reaffirmed its "unwavering commitment" to Saudi Arabia's security and stability, stressing the importance of coordination and rejecting any actions that threaten the kingdom or the region.

This simultaneous reassurance and bargaining ...