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Increasing concerns are present about the potential of warfare involving East African neighbours, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile discourse has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Stated?

Landlocked Ethiopia's calls for passage to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has provoked a heated war of words.

The Ethiopian leader previously announced in the previous year that his nation's sea access was an crucial concern, statements that Eritrea dismissed.

Relations between the both governments have frequently been strained. After a long-standing battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a long Red Sea coastline, formally separated from Ethiopian rule in 1993, leaving it cut off from the sea.

Five years later, a military clash erupted in which numerous people were killed.

Recent Statements from Ethiopia's Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrean coastal city of Assab – some 60 km from the frontier - and hinted at the desire to take it by force.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "blunder" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed tomorrow".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be returned "through military action".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Threats

Amid persistent challenges from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been restricted to brief comments on X from Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel.

Officials have denied Ethiopia's demand for maritime entry calling it "hazardous" and a "harmful plan" of "expansionism" – a policy of retaking lost territory.

Government spokespeople cautioned on recently that attempts to validate "flagrant aggression" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "redline that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Border

So far, there are no reports of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

Nevertheless, in the country, national TV has broadcast training completions of numerous trainees at multiple army bases.

The leader of staff section of the defense force, General Hachalu, commented lately in an interview that the military was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a signal to our adversaries".

Historical Background of the Conflict

For more than half a century from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by colonial powers.

After the end of Italian rule, it was then managed by the British military before evolving into a integrated region of Ethiopia.

Yet in 1962 the ruler ended this arrangement and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A thirty-year internal conflict ensued, ending with military reversal in 1991. Independence was then confirmed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were good relations between the leadership in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their shared boundary, resulting in war in 1998.

Though this ended in a truce in 2000, it was incompletely executed, and the two nations stayed at odds.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader the president. The both leaders endorsed a declaration that the war was concluded – a action that won the Prime Minister the prestigious award.

The two governments were then allies in the country's recent internal conflict in the northern region.

However diplomatic connections have since broken down anew.