Ethiopia has accused Egypt of attempting to obstruct its efforts to secure access to the Red Sea amid ongoing tensions over regional influence and the long-running dispute surrounding the Nile dam . Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nebiat Getachew Assegid, said Addis Ababa would continue pursuing maritime access through what he described as "peaceful and sustainable means". Assegid also stressed that Ethiopia’s status as a landlocked nation "cannot continue indefinitely", reiterating the government’s position that securing access to the sea remains a strategic national priority. "Egyptian actions in the region are attempts to encircle and obstruct our efforts to gain maritime access to the Red Sea and create tensions in the region," he said. "We have become accustomed to Egypt’s aggressive approach over many years. Despite these attempts, we will continue seeking maritime access through peaceful and sustainable means. We have international and regional support to achieve that," he added.
Egyptian officials have yet publicly responded to Ethiopia’s latest claims. The remarks come as relations between Egypt and Ethiopia remain strained over several regional issues, particularly the dispute surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Ethiopian officials have repeatedly accused Cairo of using its regional influence to apply political and economic pressure on Addis Ababa over the dam issue and wider influence in the Horn of Africa.
In recent years, Ethiopia has stepped up efforts to secure alternative maritime access through long-term partnerships and agreements with neighbouring countries, seeking to reduce its heavy reliance on ports in Djibouti for trade. Egypt has consistently rejected accusations that it is obstructing Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea.
Instead, Cairo has focused on strengthening strategic ties with regional partners including Somalia and Eritrea , both of which have at times had tense relations with Addis Ababa. The dispute over GERD has remained unresolved since construction of the project began in 2011 on the Blue Nile, one of the Nile’s main tributaries. While Ethiopia argues that the dam is vital for its economic development and energy ambitions, Egypt has repeatedly maintained that the issue is directly linked to its national water security. Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993 and has increasingly expressed ambitions to restore access to the Red Sea. Addis Ababa appears to view current regional dynamics as favourable to advancing that objective, particularly following the completion and operation of the dam despite objections from downstream countries Egypt and Sudan.