Archive · 5 Oct 2026
War Raises Eritrea’s Red Sea Importance as It Seeks Engagement
Eritrea is a small country beside an important sea route.
The Iran war has made that route more important because ships have had trouble using the Strait of Hormuz.
Eritrea says it wants better ties with other countries and more investment.
But its government also says it must keep the country strongly protected.
Teenagers have to attend a military camp and later serve in the military or in government jobs.
Some young people say this limits their choices, and many Eritreans have left the country.
The government says people leave for several reasons, including family and opportunities abroad.
Eritrea and neighboring Ethiopia disagree about access to the Red Sea and recently cut diplomatic ties.
Eritrea’s position on the Red Sea has gained strategic importance during the Iran war, as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed.
The United States removed sanctions on Eritrea last week, citing regional interests, while Eritrean officials say the country is ready to engage and attract investment.
Eritrea requires teenagers to undergo military training at Sawa and assigns graduates to military or national service, which can last indefinitely.
Ethiopia says Red Sea access is an economic necessity and proposes a peaceful port arrangement; Eritrea fears Ethiopia could try to seize the port of Assab.
The countries cut diplomatic ties last week, while Eritrean officials and rights groups disagree over the role national service plays in young people’s departures.
- Who
- Eritrea, its government and young people, and neighboring Ethiopia.
- What
- Eritrea is seeking greater international engagement as its Red Sea location gains importance, while tensions with Ethiopia and debate over compulsory national service continue.
- When
- The report is dated October 5; the Iran war and the countries’ diplomatic rupture are described as current, and U.S. sanctions were removed the previous week.
- Where
- Eritrea, particularly its Red Sea coast and capital, Asmara; the dispute also involves Ethiopia.
- Why
- Eritrea’s location offers a potentially important shipping corridor, while its government cites national security concerns and Ethiopia says access to the sea is an economic necessity.
Eritrean government and officials
Critics and Ethiopian officials
National service and young people leaving
Eritrean government and officials
Eritrean officials say national service is necessary because of security pressures and argue that people also leave for economic incentives, family reunification, and asylum policies abroad.
Critics and Ethiopian officials
Rights groups say prolonged compulsory service has driven generations of young Eritreans to flee. Some young people interviewed by Reuters described the service system as restricting their choices.
Access to the Red Sea
Eritrean government and officials
Eritrea says it fears Ethiopia could try to take the port of Assab by force.
Critics and Ethiopian officials
Ethiopian adviser Getachew Reda said Ethiopia has not threatened force or Eritrean sovereignty and that sea access is an economic necessity; he said Ethiopia is open to a peaceful port-use arrangement.
Eritrean refugees abroad
Eritrean government and officials
The Eritrean government disputes the UN count, saying some people classified as refugees are from neighboring countries posing as Eritreans.
Critics and Ethiopian officials
The United Nations reports that more than 679,000 Eritreans live abroad as refugees or asylum seekers.
- Population
- Fewer than 4 million people
- Independence
- Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in 1993
- Red Sea coastline
- About 1,000 km
- National service
- Teenagers undergo military training near the end of high school, followed by military or national service that can be indefinitely long
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- The United Nations counts more than 679,000 Eritreans abroad; the Eritrean government disputes the figure
- U.S. sanctions
- Removed the week before the report; the State Department said the decision was made to advance U.S. regional interests
- Diplomatic ties
- Ethiopia expelled Eritrean diplomats last week, and Eritrea retaliated