Egypt issues a stern warning to Ethiopia regarding the sea

Cairo (Caasimada Online) – The Egyptian government has issued a subtle warning to Ethiopia, stating that it will not accept a landlocked country using the Red Sea for military purposes, as Addis Ababa continues to strengthen its efforts to access maritime routes.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister stated that Cairo insists that the responsibility for the security of the Red Sea belongs solely to the coastal countries, which appears to be a position against Ethiopia's ambition to gain access to maritime routes.

“It is completely unacceptable for a landlocked country to use the Red Sea for military matters. The only thing that landlocked countries can be allowed is trade routes, if that is agreed upon by the relevant countries,” the minister said.

Cairo's position comes as Ethiopia has recently made it clear how important it is for them to gain access to maritime routes, a matter that has made their relations with some regional countries sensitive.

On the other hand, the minister stated that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are working on an initiative to unify the countries bordering the Red Sea, in order to strengthen cooperation and security in the region.

This initiative is related to the Council of Arab and African States bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which was established in Riyadh in January 2020. The council includes eight countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen.

The main objective of this council is for the member countries to cooperate in maintaining the security of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while also enhancing their economic relations and regional cooperation.