Ethiopia accused Egypt on Thursday of trying to encircle it and obstruct its access to the Red Sea, days after Cairo and Asmara signed a maritime transport agreement and reaffirmed that Red Sea security should remain the preserve of littoral states.
A spokesperson for Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said during a press conference in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia would continue seeking sea access through “peaceful and sustainable” means, adding that “Ethiopia remaining a landlocked country is unacceptable,” Al Arabyia reported.
The remarks came amid long-running tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia as Cairo expands its ties with Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti, states whose territory blocks Ethiopia’s direct access to the Red Sea.
Egypt and Eritrea signed a maritime transport agreement in Asmara on May 16, 2026, during a visit by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir, in the presence of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
Under the agreement, the two countries will launch a cargo shipping route linking Egyptian and Eritrean ports on the Red Sea, with the aim of expanding trade and logistics cooperation.
The two governments also said Red Sea “governance and security” should remain the exclusive responsibility of states bordering the waterway and rejected the involvement of outside regional actors.
During his visit, Abdelatty said Egypt fully supported Eritrea’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
He also said Cairo wanted to expand economic and trade cooperation with Asmara through bilateral projects serving mutual interests.
The Egyptian and Eritrean sides also reviewed developments in the Horn of Africa. Abdelatty presented Egypt’s position on Sudan and Somalia and said Cairo remained committed to the security and stability of the Horn, which he described as part of Egyptian national security.
He stressed the need to support state institutions and preserve the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of countries in the region.
For his part, Al-Wazir said Egypt was keen to deepen cooperation with Eritrea in transport, infrastructure, and logistics. He said Cairo was ready to transfer its expertise in railways, ports, and maritime transport to support development efforts and expand economic ties.
Ethiopia believes Egypt is using its regional influence to apply political and economic pressure on Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute, which has dragged on since 2011.
Egypt’s moves in the Horn of Africa have increased pressure on Ethiopia to show flexibility in the Nile water dispute, a move Addis Ababa has not made to date.
While Cairo does not impose direct restrictions on Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea, it has moved to strengthen relations with countries such as Eritrea and Somalia, both of which have complicated relations with Addis Ababa.
Cairo strongly opposed the 2024 Ethiopia-Somaliland memorandum of understanding, saying it would violate Somalia’s sovereignty by giving Addis Ababa 50-year access to 20 kilometers of coastline in the breakaway region and allowing it to build a naval port. Egypt has since sought to rally regional and international opposition to the deal, which it views as part of Ethiopia’s aggressive regional expansion.
Cairo’s main concern about the GERD is the possibility that Ethiopia may not release enough water during a prolonged drought. Such a situation could wipe out millions of agricultural jobs and severely disrupt Egypt’s already delicate food balance, especially since the country is grappling with water scarcity.
Ethiopia, however, has doubled down on its commitment to the GERD by announcing plans to construct three additional dams as part of its long-term strategy to increase power generation and expand electricity exports throughout East Africa.
The country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed previously rejected the framing that the dam would put Egypt’s water security at risk, insisting that the GERD would benefit Egypt and Sudan, while Cairo has maintained its rejection of unilateral measures taken by Ethiopia, saying the issue of water is a matter of national security.
