A step from the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense may flip the scales in the region

Follow-up- Al-Zawiya Net- The step of the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense celebrated the reception of the first batch of naval students returning to the country, after completing their studies and training them abroad for 6 years in the fields of engineering and various maritime technical specialties, many questions about what you want Addis Ababa with these and she does not have a marine outlet.

Ethiopia seeks to restore control of the Red Sea as a single port of it

The Ethiopian move leads to a return to the conflict between the archenemy and Adra Ababa in the Red Sea region, which Ethiopia lost in 1993 when Eritrea gained independence.

The Eritrean President accuses Ethiopia of seeking to destabilize his country

The most prominent statements in this aspect were made by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki when it launched an unprecedented public attack on Addis Ababa, on the 34th anniversary of his country’s independence, accusing it of seeking to destabilize regional stability under slogans related to water and demanding an outlet on the Red Sea, considering this requirement “an excuse to fuel conflicts in the region.”

A marine force capable of protecting the country’s interests and deterring threats

During the celebration of the graduation, the Ethiopian Navy Commander, Lieutenant -General Kindo Jazo, said that this batch represents a new start towards re -establishing a naval force capable of protecting the interests of the country and addressing any threats that may affect its national security.

The statement of the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense did not specify the countries or institutions in which these officers received their training, but Addis Ababa had previously signed cooperation agreements with several countries, most notably Russia, France and Italy, to provide training programs for the Ethiopian marine cadres.

In May, Ethiopia revealed its formation of a new naval police force assigned to ensure security around the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam with the start of its huge artificial lake.

Ethiopia’s dependence on the port of Djibouti made the marine port of pressure

The writer who is interested in the affairs of the Ethiopian plateau, Abdul Jalil Suleiman Ethiopia, says a model for the beloved state, which is trying to reproduce its naval presence through diplomatic, security and commercial tools. Although more than 90% of its trade passes through the port of Djibouti, the unilateral dependence on Djibouti made the maritime port an issue is a pressure on its economic stability and strategic security.

“This desire has emerged strongly in the speech of Prime Minister Abi Ahmed, who indicated on more than one occasion that Ethiopia has a” natural right “to reach the sea, proposing formulas to share coastal resources with neighboring countries.

Abdul Jalil notes that the most prominent manifestations of this trend appeared in the Ethiopia Convention – Somalia Land (Somaliland) in early 2024, which included granting Ethiopia a marine outlet near Berbera port, in exchange for political recognition in a region looking for recognition as the ² state.

The intermittent conversations with Eritrea on reactivating its ports in favor of Ethiopia have not led to concrete results since the signing of the peace agreement with Ethiopia in 2018.

Despite these moves, the Ethiopian maritime transformation faces structural obstacles represented in the lack of confidence with its coastal neighbors, and the lack of clarity of the long -term strategic vision, which makes the Ethiopian maritime ambition commented on external balances more than stem from internal capabilities.