Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has dismissed concerns of an impending war with Eritrea, stating that his country has no intention of using military force to secure access to the Red Sea—a long-standing strategic goal for Addis Ababa.
Addressing the Ethiopian parliament, Abiy clarified: “Ethiopia does not seek war with Eritrea to gain access to a seaport.” His statement aimed to dispel growing fears of conflict between the two neighboring nations.
According to Al Jazeera, Abiy reiterated that while Ethiopia—being a landlocked nation—sees Red Sea access as vital, it prefers diplomatic negotiations over military confrontation to achieve this objective.
Rising Border Tensions
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have escalated following reports of a large-scale military mobilization by the Eritrean government, with both countries reportedly deploying troops along their shared border.
Asmara’s reaction comes in response to widely circulated social media discussions in Ethiopia, where both officials and citizens have openly suggested that Addis Ababa should seize Eritrea’s Assab port by force to gain direct maritime access.
Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, dismissed Ethiopia’s ambitions as outdated and misguided. “Eritrea is alarmed by Ethiopia’s unrealistic and obsolete aspirations to secure a seaport—whether by force or manipulation,” Gebremeskel told Al Jazeera.
Ethiopia’s Struggles for Maritime Access
Ethiopia previously sought access to the sea through a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland in early 2024, but the agreement collapsed under pressure from Somalia and the international community. In the wake of that failure, Ethiopian citizens have increasingly called for alternative solutions, including claims on Eritrea’s Assab port.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia has initiated discussions with Somalia over potential access to a Somali port. However, Mogadishu has made it clear that it will not grant Ethiopia any access beyond a standard commercial agreement.
