Ethiopia to seek peaceful solution with Eritrea over Red Sea access, says PM Abiy

Ethiopia has no intention of waging war with Eritrea to gain access to the Red Sea, prime minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized Thursday (20 March) amid growing tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations.
Speaking to parliament, Abiy stated that his government aims to resolve the issue through diplomacy, focusing on a mutually beneficial solution rather than conflict. Ethiopia, one of the world’s most populous landlocked countries, views access to the sea as crucial for its economic development. Abiy’s remarks come amid rising concerns that the two countries, which fought a brutal border war in the late 1990s, could be heading toward renewed hostilities. However, the prime minister made it clear that while Ethiopia’s need for maritime access is “existential,” it will not resort to military means to secure it.
Abiy further explained that his administration does not intend to “invade” Eritrea, as Ethiopia is committed to peaceful negotiations, grounded in the principles of “give and take.” He stressed that war would be disastrous, not only for Ethiopia and Eritrea but also for the region. His comments followed Eritrean foreign minister Osman Saleh’s recent rejection of Ethiopia’s aspirations, describing the claims as “misguided.” Despite these tensions, Abiy assured that Ethiopia is prepared to defend itself if necessary but remains focused on peace, highlighting the country’s role in fostering stability across Africa. He also called for international support in facilitating dialogue to resolve the issue and avoid any further escalation.