Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopia is preparing its military to secure access to the Red Sea, aiming to restore a strategic coastal presence long lost.
General Bulti Tadesse, commander of Ethiopia’s Defense College, told newly trained troops the mission is to fulfill the nation’s dream of reaching the sea. He emphasized Ethiopia’s goal to become a regional power.
Bulti warned that while diplomacy and peaceful negotiations remain the preferred approach, the government will not hesitate to use force if necessary to achieve its objectives.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said during a recent state media interview that regaining control over Eritrea’s Assab port is “only a matter of time.”
Speaking ahead of the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Abiy said Ethiopia is correcting a mistake made decades ago when it lost access to the Red Sea.
“The Red Sea was part of Ethiopia 30 years ago,” he said. “That loss was a mistake, but it will be reversed.”
However, Ethiopia’s push for sea access has sparked tensions with neighboring Somalia, where a preliminary 2024 agreement with Somaliland stirred controversy over maritime and territorial claims.
