Two African nations have formed a new alliance to strengthen their control over Red Sea maritime activities while regional disputes with Ethiopia continue to escalate.
Officials from Egypt and Eritrea formalized a maritime transportation partnership on Sunday in Asmara, with President Isaias Afwerki overseeing the ceremony. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir traveled to the Eritrean capital for the signing.
The new partnership will create a direct cargo shipping connection linking Egyptian and Eritrean Red Sea ports. Officials say the arrangement aims to boost trade relationships and improve logistics coordination between the two nations.
Both governments declared that Red Sea security matters should be handled exclusively by countries that border the waterway, rejecting involvement from external regional powers.
Leaders from both countries also conducted an Egyptian-Eritrean Business Forum to explore joint investment opportunities and commercial partnerships. The discussions covered transportation infrastructure, mining operations, pharmaceutical development, and fishing industries, plus sharing knowledge about port construction and expansion projects.
This collaboration emerges as Egypt and Eritrea strengthen their coordination throughout the Horn of Africa region while managing ongoing conflicts with Ethiopia. These disputes involve Ethiopia’s attempts to gain Red Sea port access through neighboring Somaliland, plus continuing disagreements about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.
The two countries, separated by a border spanning 1851 kilometers, have been increasing their economic and naval coordination as part of wider regional partnership initiatives.
Egypt has been building stronger diplomatic and military relationships across the Horn of Africa. During late 2024, Cairo established a three-way cooperation agreement with Eritrea and Somalia designed to enhance regional coordination while restricting Ethiopian influence throughout the area.
