Israel backs Ethiopia’s bid for access to the Red Sea — Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel has declared diplomatic support for landlocked Ethiopia’s aspiration to gain access to the Red Sea. This increases tensions in Addis Ababa’s relations with Egypt, which objects to granting Ethiopia military maritime access, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Neguise, told the Ethiopian News Agency that his country firmly supports Ethiopia’s efforts to gain access to the Red Sea. According to him, strengthening Ethiopia and stabilizing the situation in the Red Sea are in the interests not only of this country but of all parties.
Ethiopia became a landlocked state in 1993 after Eritrea gained independence. It currently uses the ports of neighboring states, primarily Djibouti.
Egypt’s position
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said at a press conference that no one has the right to grant any country military maritime access to the Red Sea. He noted that sovereign states with ports on the Red Sea have the right to be present on its coast, and Cairo does not object to commercial access to the sea.
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Egypt and Ethiopia also have a separate dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its potential impact on Egypt’s share of Nile water.
Expert assessments
Africa affairs expert Asmaa al-Husseini told the publication that Israel’s statements are increasing tensions in relations with Egypt. In her view, Cairo will monitor Ethiopia’s further actions and respond depending on the level of escalation and actions on the ground.
Another expert, Ramadan Karni, linked Egypt’s objections to the principles of international law and the African Union regarding the inviolability of inherited borders. He also expressed the opinion that there may be a political exchange: in his assessment, Israel supports Ethiopia’s aspiration to gain access to the Red Sea coast in exchange for its support for Israel’s position on the presence or recognition of the self-declared Somaliland. This is an expert assessment, not an established fact.
