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Growing concerns have emerged about the potential of military engagement involving Horn of Africa neighbours, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as confrontational discourse has intensified in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Said?

Landlocked Ethiopia's demands for entry to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has provoked a intense verbal exchange.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in last year that his country's access to the sea was an crucial concern, remarks that Eritrea dismissed.

Ties between the neighboring nations have often been tense. After a prolonged struggle for freedom, the Eritrean state, which has a extensive maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopian rule in the early 1990s, leaving it without sea access.

Subsequently, a border war erupted in which over a hundred thousand people were killed.

Current Statements from Ethiopia's Leadership

Prime Minister Abiy and military leader Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have directly stated control of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the frontier - and implied the desire to seize it militarily.

On 1 September, Abiy said the country's "blunder" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "rectified soon".

The Ethiopian envoy to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrea's Response to the Statements

Despite persistent threats from Ethiopia, Asmara's position has been limited to concise remarks on online platforms from Information Minister the minister.

He has rejected Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea calling it "hazardous" and a "negative policy" of "territorial claims" – a approach of reclaiming former lands.

Government spokespeople cautioned on 16 September that attempts to legitimise "blatant hostility" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "boundary that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Region

So far, there are little evidence of major military movements in the boundary zones between the two countries.

However, in Ethiopia, national TV has broadcast completion events of thousands of cadets at multiple army bases.

The leader of human resources department of the military, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, recently said in an conversation that the army was in a "reliable position" as "many thousands of youths" were enlisting, which he said was "a warning to our adversaries".

Historical Origins of the Dispute

For decades from the late 19th century, Eritrea was administered by colonial powers.

After the end of Italian rule, it was then controlled by the British administration before turning into a associated territory of the Ethiopian empire.

But in 1962 the ruler ended this arrangement and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long civil war ensued, finishing with the government's loss in 1991. Sovereignty was then approved by voters in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were positive ties between the governments in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they fell out over the exact location of their common border, leading to war in 1998.

Although this ended in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations remained at odds.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made overtures to Eritrea's leader President Isaias. The both leaders endorsed a announcement that the conflict was over – a decision that earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.

The both administrations were then cooperators in Ethiopia's recent armed struggle in Tigray.

However relations have subsequently deteriorated anew.