Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP) has announced a significant escalation in the landlocked nation’s pursuit of access to the sea, elevating what it calls a “natural and historical right” to a prominent international issue.
In a statement released over the weekend, the party declared that the government’s campaign to restore Ethiopia’s “geostrategic position” along the Red Sea is gaining momentum.
“The country has elevated its natural and historical right to access the sea to the status of an international issue and we have taken more than one step towards restoring our geostrategic position in the Red Sea,” the document read.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly emphasized that a population exceeding 120 million “cannot remain landlocked,” framing the pursuit as a “question of survival” and a historical entitlement for Ethiopia.
The prime minister’s remarks have sparked unease among neighboring countries, notably Eritrea. President Isaias Afwerki condemned the statements as “provocative and revisionist,” cautioning against any efforts to alter the existing borders in the Horn of Africa.
Despite a warm rapprochement between Addis Ababa and Asmara following the 2018 peace agreement, Eritrea’s defensive posture paired with Ethiopia’s increasingly assertive rhetoric has raised concerns of renewed tensions in this historically volatile region.
In parallel, the Prosperity Party highlighted its progress in fortifying Ethiopia’s geostrategic influence through “appropriate and legal measures” surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The dam remains a key point of contention not only with Eritrea but also with Egypt, which views the hydroelectric project as a threat to its vital water supply. Ethiopia insists the GERD is a sovereign development project essential to its future.
Regarding ongoing conflict in the Amhara region, the PP pledged full support for armed groups willing to pursue peaceful and non-violent solutions. Conversely, the party vowed to intensify law enforcement against those rejecting peaceful options and threatening public order and national security.
As Ethiopia asserts its ambitions on multiple fronts—from maritime access to energy sovereignty—the international community watches closely, aware that the stakes extend far beyond the nation’s borders.
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