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Growing concerns exist over the possibility of military engagement between Horn of Africa countries, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as hostile rhetoric has intensified in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for entry to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has triggered a fierce verbal exchange.

The Ethiopian leader first openly declared in the previous year that his country's sea access was an vital issue, comments that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the neighboring nations have often been tense. After a long-standing struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it without sea access.

In 1998, a military clash started in which numerous people lost their lives.

Recent Comments from Ethiopian Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have openly claimed sovereignty of Eritrea's southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the frontier - and suggested the intention to seize it militarily.

Recently, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia's "error" of losing access to the sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "rectified tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be returned "through military action".

Eritrean Answer to the Threats

In the face of continuous threats from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been confined to brief comments on X from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

He has rejected Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "dangerous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a policy of reclaiming previous domains.

Eritrean authorities cautioned on mid-September that attempts to justify "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Region

Currently, there are no reports of large-scale army activities in the border areas between the both nations.

However, in the country, state television has broadcast training completions of many recruits at multiple army bases.

The leader of staff section of the military, General Hachalu, commented lately in an conversation that the military was in a "reliable position" as "tens of thousands of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a signal to our adversaries".

Historical Origins of the Dispute

For over fifty years from 1890, the territory was ruled by colonial powers.

Following Italy's defeat, it was then administered by the UK forces before becoming a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

However in 1962 the Ethiopian emperor ended this agreement and Eritrea became fully incorporated into the Ethiopian state.

A thirty-year armed struggle ensued, finishing with military reversal in 1991. Autonomy was then approved by the population in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they fell out over the precise positioning of their mutual frontier, resulting in hostilities in 1998.

Even though this ended in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations continued at in dispute.

This situation improved in 2018, when the Prime Minister made gestures to Eritrea's leader the president. The two endorsed a statement that the war was finished – a move that gained the Prime Minister the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then partners in the country's previous armed struggle in the northern region.

However relations have since broken down anew.