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Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed: “The Red Sea Is as Vital to Ethiopia as the Golan Heights Is to Israel”
Addis Ababa (Horn post) Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has once again firmly reiterated his country’s long-standing position on access to the Red Sea, describing it as a strategic national necessity comparable to Israel’s control of the Golan Heights.
Speaking before the Ethiopian Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Abiy rejected claims that Ethiopia could exist without seeking access to the Red Sea, stating that such an assumption contradicts both geography and natural order.
“It is against the laws of nature to assume that Ethiopia does not need access to the sea,” Abiy said, emphasizing that the Red Sea holds critical economic and strategic importance for Ethiopia.
“The Red Sea and Ethiopia are inseparable,” the Prime Minister added, while stressing that Ethiopia has no intention of pursuing access through military force.
Red Sea Compared to Israel’s Golan Heights
In a striking comparison, Abiy likened Ethiopia’s interest in the Red Sea to Israel’s control of the Golan Heights, which Israel considers vital to its national security.
He noted that Israel occupied the Golan Heights due to security concerns, arguing that Ethiopia’s national interest is similarly tied to securing sustainable access to the Red Sea.
“Ethiopia does not want to fire a single bullet to achieve this goal,” Abiy said, underscoring his government’s preference for peaceful and diplomatic solutions.
Ethiopia–Eritrea Relations
Addressing questions from Members of Parliament on relations with Eritrea, Prime Minister Abiy stated that Eritrean forces were involved in widespread looting during the northern Ethiopia conflict, including the dismantling and theft of industrial facilities.
He acknowledged that relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have deteriorated, attributing the strain partly to Eritrea’s dissatisfaction with the Pretoria Peace Agreement signed to end the Tigray conflict.
“How can a peace agreement be signed with the TPLF while the TPLF still exists?” Abiy quoted, reflecting Eritrea’s position.
The Prime Minister revealed that Ethiopian government delegations were repeatedly sent to Asmara to demand the return of looted property and an end to the destruction of assets.
“When we reached Adigrat, we found the pharmaceutical factory dismantled. What could not be taken was destroyed. The situation reached its peak, but at that time the Ethiopian government lacked the capacity to prevent it,” he said.
GERD Financing Clarified
Prime Minister Abiy also revisited the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), firmly denying claims that the project was financed through foreign loans or international assistance.
“The GERD was built through the courageous decision of Ethiopians and the collective effort of our people at home and abroad,” Abiy stated, stressing that no external debt or aid was used in its construction.
His remarks came in response to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that the United States had financed the GERD project.
Major Infrastructure Projects Continue
Abiy assured lawmakers that Ethiopia remains committed to advancing large-scale national development projects, revealing that construction has begun on one of Africa’s largest international airports.
He reiterated that Ethiopia would continue to pursue transformative infrastructure initiatives aimed at strengthening economic growth and regional connectivity.
Prepares by:
Horn post staff reporter
Adiss Ababa Ethiopia
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