Egypt delegation visits Eritrea as Ethiopia tensions mount

A high-level delegation from Egypt, led by Foreign Minister and international cooperation Badr Abdelatty met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara.

According to a readout from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks focused on regional security and developments in the Horn of Africa. During the discussions, Abdelatty said that “the governance and security of the Red Sea remain an exclusive responsibility of the littoral states,” describing the waterway as a strategic corridor directly linked to the national security of countries bordering it. He added that “no non-littoral parties should engage in arrangements or understandings concerning it.”

The Egyptian statement added that the discussions also addressed the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia, as well as efforts aimed at “maintaining the security and stability of the Horn of Africa region,” which Abdelatty described as “a direct extension of Egyptian national security.”

In a statement posted on his official X account, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane G. Meskel said that the “extensive discussions centered on further enhancement of all-round bilateral ties of cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual importance.” He added that Afwerki “underlined the significance of consolidating the all-round ties between Eritrea and Egypt to advance the mutual interests of the Eritrean and Egyptian peoples.”

Meskel further noted that the Eritrean president expressed Eritrea’s readiness to implement joint projects with Egyptian economic and trade companies.

The meeting comes at a critical time as tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia continue to rise. Over the past several months, relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa have deteriorated significantly. Ethiopia’s government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has repeatedly accused Eritrea of supporting armed militias operating inside Ethiopia. Addis Ababa has also alleged that Eritrea is collaborating with factions linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in an attempt to open a new front in northern Ethiopia.

Eritrea, however, has strongly denied all allegations made by Ethiopia. Asmara insists that its government is not involved in arming militias or supporting efforts to destabilize Ethiopia. Likewise, the TPLF has rejected claims that it is working with Eritrea against the Ethiopian government. Despite these denials, suspicion remains high on all sides, largely because of the deep divisions and unresolved grievances left behind by the devastating Tigray war.

The conflict, which lasted two years, claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and caused widespread humanitarian suffering. During much of the war, Eritrea and Ethiopia were military allies fighting against the TPLF, but relations between the former allies later deteriorated following disagreements over the Pretoria peace deal..

One of the major issues fueling current tensions is Ethiopia’s increasing push for direct access to the Red Sea. Since the end of the Tigray conflict, the Ethiopian government has aggressively pursued plans to secure sea access, arguing that the country’s economic future depends on reliable maritime trade routes. Ethiopian leaders have openly discussed the strategic importance of ports such as Assab, which is located in Eritrea.

Although Ethiopia has stated that it seeks peaceful negotiations and economic cooperation, Eritrea views these statements as a veiled threat. Asmara fears that Ethiopia’s growing demands could eventually threaten Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. For Eritrea, any discussion involving access to the port of Assab is highly sensitive because of the long history of border disputes and past wars between the two countries.

At the same time, relations between Ethiopia and Egypt remain strained over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt has repeatedly expressed concern that the dam could reduce its share of Nile water, while Ethiopia argues that the project is essential for its economic development and energy needs. Although negotiations have continued for years, no permanent solution has been reached. The unresolved GERD dispute has added another layer of geopolitical pressure on Ethiopia.

The latest meeting between Egyptian and Eritrean officials comes amid these regional tensions. Ongoing disputes over Red Sea security, Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access, Egypt’s maneuvers in the horn, and the unresolved negotiations surrounding the GERD continue to shape relations among the three countries. The talks in Asmara reflect growing efforts by Cairo and Asmara to strengthen their regional interests, particularly in response to Ethiopia’s increasing push for direct access to the sea.