The two neighbours have lengthy had a unstable relationship – flip-flopping from being buddies to enemies.
Eritrea formally seceded from Ethiopia in 1993 – however later fought a lethal border war.
In reality, Abiy gained the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for ending the 20-year navy stalemate with Eritrea that adopted.
But pleasant relations additional cast throughout the Tigray war have given approach to a war of phrases over the Red Sea.
This is as a result of Ethiopia, the world’s most populous landlocked nation, misplaced its Red Sea ports when Eritrea acquired its independence – taking with it a 1,350km (840-mile) shoreline
For Abiy this has develop into an existential disaster and he has been pushing for possession of Eritrea’s southern port of Assab – about 60km from the border – and hinted at the need to take it by power.
“The Red Sea and Ethiopia cannot remain separated forever,” Abiy mentioned throughout a latest parliamentary handle.
