Egypt and Eritrea Strengthen Coordination on Red Sea and Horn of Africa Affairs
Egypt and Eritrea have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and enhancing regional cooperation, following a phone conversation between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh on Thursday.
According to diplomatic sources in Cairo, the two ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination on key developments in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region, in line with the directives of Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Isaias Afwerki.
The renewed engagement comes amid heightened regional tensions, particularly surrounding Ethiopia’s continued push for access to the Red Sea and shifting security dynamics across the Horn of Africa.
The call follows a recent meeting between President El-Sisi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in the coastal city of El Alamein, where Egypt pledged to increase military cooperation with Somalia and reiterated its interest in safeguarding the Red Sea corridor.
In a notable diplomatic move last October, Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia held a summit in Asmara, where leaders agreed to boost joint security efforts and uphold Somalia’s sovereignty and maritime borders. That summit was seen as an attempt to establish a united stance in the face of growing external pressures and regional rivalries.
Eritrea has yet to release an official statement on Thursday’s conversation, but observers say the dialogue underscores an evolving alliance aimed at counterbalancing competing interests in the region.