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Increasing concerns exist about the potential of armed conflict involving East African neighbors, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as confrontational discourse has ratcheted up in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has triggered a intense rhetorical conflict.

The Ethiopian leader initially stated publicly in last year that his nation's maritime access was an existential matter, comments that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Ties between the two countries have frequently been strained. Following a prolonged fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a long maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, making it cut off from the sea.

Subsequently, a border war broke out in which more than 100,000 people died.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated ownership of Eritrea's southern port of Assab – approximately 60 kilometers from the border - and suggested the intention to take it by force.

On 1 September, the Prime Minister said the country's "error" of losing entry to the Red Sea as a due to Eritrea's separation would be "rectified tomorrow".

Ethiopia's ambassador to neighboring Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopian property" and would be restored "using武力".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Threats

Amid persistent challenges from Ethiopian officials, Asmara's position has been restricted to short statements on online platforms from Information Minister Yemane G..

Officials have denied Ethiopian requests for sea access calling it "risky" and a "negative policy" of "expansionism" – a strategy of claiming back lost territory.

Eritrean authorities cautioned on recently that attempts to validate "blatant hostility" would have significant repercussions for Ethiopia and its regional partners and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Activities on the Border

Currently, there are little evidence of major military movements in the frontier regions between the neighboring states.

However, in the country, state television has displayed training completions of many recruits at multiple army bases.

The head of staff section of the defense force, the officer, commented lately in an conversation that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of young people" were joining it, which he said was "a message to our enemies".

Past Background of the Tension

For more than half a century from the late 19th century, Eritrea was administered by colonial powers.

Following the end of Italian rule, it was then controlled by the British military before evolving into a federated part of the Ethiopian empire.

However in 1962 the ruler cancelled this agreement and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A extended civil war occurred, ending with Ethiopia's defeat in the early 1990s. Sovereignty was then endorsed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they disagreed over the exact location of their common border, leading to war in 1998.

Though this finished in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors remained at in dispute.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrean President President Isaias. The two agreed to a announcement that the hostilities was concluded – a action that gained Abiy the international recognition.

The two governments were then partners in Ethiopia's previous armed struggle in Tigray.

Yet diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated again.