The United States has made it clear that it does not support Ethiopia’s plan to take over the port of Assab in Eritrea, according to an official statement from the U.S. State Department after Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The statement said the two leaders focused on a consensus based on “economic reform and regional stability,” without mentioning the Red Sea or Ethiopia’s territorial claims.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of dialogue and regional stability during their talks. He also praised Ethiopia’s economic reforms that have created opportunities for U.S. trade and investment.
Various reports indicate that the United States is promoting stability in the Horn of Africa region, rather than supporting territorial expansion or Ethiopia’s sensitive maritime interests.
The United States recently said it was working to resolve the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between Ethiopia and Egypt.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed his gratitude for what he described as Trump’s efforts to reach a fair agreement between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
