Ethiopia under siege as Egypt, Eritrea reject landlocked states in Red Sea security

CAIRO, Egypt - Ethiopia could find it difficult to wrestle for Red Sea security partnerships after Egypt and Eritrea ruled out engaging landlocked nations, arguing that waterway governance “should be led by coastal nations,”

Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh who was in Cairo on Sunday, said non-coastal states do not have a role to play in security arrangements within the Red Sea according to the Egyptian presidency.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, Egypt’s presidential spokesperson, said Osman delivered a message from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who reciprocated by affirming “Egypt’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.”

He added that the talks focused on “regional stability and security cooperation.” Badr Abdelatty, the Egyptian foreign affairs minister, and Rashab Hassan, the head of the General Intelligence Service, attended the meeting.

Both countries stressed that “coastal states” should take the lead in managing the waterway and rejected “the involvement of non-coastal states” in its governance, Addis Standard reports.

Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed termed the access to the Red Sea a huge "priority" but ruled out “invading” Eritrea over the issue. He stressed that any solution should be based on “give and take” and “market principles,” warning that failure to address the matter could create future challenges.

But Osman says Eritrea was concerned with "outdated ambitions" by Ethiopia for maritime access whether through "diplomacy or military engagement". He urged the international community to ensure Ethiopia respects “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors.”

During Sunday’s meeting, Eritrea and Egypt also discussed Sudan and Somalia, expressing concern over the “prolonged conflict in Sudan” and its regional implications. They reaffirmed support for “efforts to restore peace” and stressed the importance of “Somalia’s stability in combating terrorism and maintaining regional security.”

Before this trip, Osman had visited Saudi Arabia where he met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and delivered a message from President Isaias Afwerki to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

GAROWE ONLINE