Addis Ababa, November 1, 2025 (HornCurrent) —

Ethiopia has reiterated its legitimate right to seek access to the Red Sea as part of its long-term national and regional development strategy, following remarks by Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdel Atty, who claimed that it was “unacceptable for landlocked Ethiopia to take part in any Red Sea governance framework.”

In a press briefing held in Cairo, Dr. Abdel Atty asserted that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the “primary riparian states” responsible for the future governance and security of the Red Sea. He said both countries bear “the main responsibility” for managing the strategic maritime corridor, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

However, diplomatic observers and regional analysts have described Egypt’s position as outdated and geopolitically unrealistic, noting that Ethiopia’s geographic, historical, and economic interests naturally qualify it as a stakeholder in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.

Experts point out that Ethiopia’s 120 million population and its growing economy, along with its deep historical and cultural ties with the Red Sea basin, make it an indispensable partner in any sustainable regional security and trade arrangement.

“No regional maritime framework can be credible or stable without Ethiopia’s participation,” one regional analyst told HornCurrent. “Addis Ababa is not seeking dominance, but fair access, cooperation, and shared prosperity in line with international law.”

The Egyptian minister’s remarks come amid Cairo’s renewed diplomatic outreach in the Red Sea and Gulf region. On the same day, Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed a new naval alliance agreement aimed at enhancing joint defense coordination and maritime security. Riyadh also recently signed a separate defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan, which includes provisions for military support and nuclear deterrence in case of external aggression.

Ethiopian officials, while refraining from direct response, have consistently emphasized that access to sea and equitable participation in regional maritime governance are essential for Ethiopia’s economic transformation and for regional stability.

“Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the sea is not a threat to any nation — it is a matter of economic survival, mutual benefit, and regional integration,” a senior government source told HornCurrent.

Regional observers note that constructive dialogue and cooperative frameworks, rather than exclusion or militarization, remain the only viable path toward lasting peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea corridor.