US Expresses Concern Over Escalating Ethiopia-Eritrea Tensions, Calls for Dialogue

The United States government has issued a formal call for Ethiopia and Eritrea to de-escalate growing cross-border tensions, refrain from military conflict, and return to peaceful dialogue. The US State Department warned that the Horn of Africa cannot bear additional military conflicts and humanitarian crises, adding that further confrontation risks damaging mutual strategic interests with both nations. Tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara escalated significantly following recent conflict in Tigray and border regions of Amhara and Afar. Ethiopian officials and Afar leaders have accused Eritrean troops of crossing the border and supporting TPLF forces and allied rebels, accusations that Eritrea has repeatedly denied. In response to the crisis, the Ethiopian government ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, effectively severing diplomatic ties that had been restored in 2018. Senior Ethiopian official Dr. Abraham Belay warned of severe responses to foreign border incursions, while Washington urges both sides to respect territorial integrity and honor signed peace agreements.