Written by: Badr Ahmed

Ethiopia continues its attempts to escape its internal crises by accusing Egypt of trying to obstruct its efforts to gain access to the Red Sea, in the latest episode of escalating tension between the two countries over complex regional issues including the security of the Horn of Africa and the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Ethiopian claims regarding the Red Sea are escalating and becoming increasingly frequent.

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nebat Getachew Asged claimed during a press conference the day before yesterday that his country will continue to seek maritime access through peaceful and sustainable means, claiming that Ethiopia’s status as a landlocked country cannot continue indefinitely.

The Ethiopian official added that what he described as Egypt’s moves in the region aim to encircle and obstruct Addis Ababa’s efforts to gain a sea outlet, while Cairo maintains its diplomatic composure by not responding to the Ethiopian claims.

These Ethiopian claims come in the context of tensions caused by Addis Ababa, particularly regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, which Egypt, according to statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, considers a direct threat to its water security and national security.

While Ethiopia claims it is a key development project to generate power and support its economic plans.

In recent years, according to US reports, Ethiopia has intensified its diplomatic and regional efforts to find alternatives to access seaports, given its heavy reliance on Djibouti's ports for foreign trade.

Understandings and agreements with neighboring countries

It also entered into understandings and agreements with neighboring countries in an effort to diversify its maritime outlets and reduce transportation and trade costs.

Addis Ababa accuses Cairo of working to strengthen its influence in the Horn of Africa region through strategic relations with countries such as Somalia and Eritrea, which Ethiopia considers part of attempts to influence its regional moves.

In contrast, official Egyptian statements deny all such claims, asserting that Cairo’s actions are aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and protecting its strategic interests.

According to European reports, observers believe that the recent Ethiopian speech comes amid increasing internal complications facing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, with ongoing tensions in a number of regions, including Tigray, Amhara and Oromia, which pose additional challenges to internal stability.

Analysts suggest that the alleged escalation of external rhetoric from Ethiopia may reflect an attempt to rearrange political priorities internally, given the overlapping security and economic crises facing Abiy Ahmed's government, while the Red Sea and Renaissance Dam files remain among the most prominent files susceptible to alleged escalation from Addis Ababa.