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Growing apprehensions are present over the chance of military engagement between Horn of Africa neighbors, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as hostile language has escalated in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for passage to the sea coast through Eritrean territory has sparked a heated rhetorical conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister previously announced in last year that his government's access to the sea was an crucial concern, comments that Eritrea ignored.

Relations between the neighboring nations have often been tense. After a decades-long battle for independence, the Eritrean state, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, legally broke away from Ethiopian rule in 1993, rendering it cut off from the sea.

Subsequently, a territorial conflict started in which more than 100,000 people lost their lives.

Current Comments from Ethiopia's Government

Abiy and military leader General Birhanu Jula have openly claimed ownership of Eritrea's coastal city of the port of Assab – about 60km from the boundary - and suggested the desire to seize it militarily.

In early September, Abiy said the country's "mistake" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea secession would be "addressed in the future".

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, ex-military officer Bacha, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be returned "by force".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Amid persistent threats from Ethiopian officials, Eritrea's response has been limited to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane Gebremeskel.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea describing it as "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "irredentism" – a strategy of retaking previous domains.

The information ministry warned on 16 September that attempts to justify "blatant hostility" would have major implications for Ethiopia and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Defense Activities on the Border

There have been little evidence of major military movements in the boundary zones between the neighboring states.

Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, national TV has displayed graduation ceremonies of numerous trainees at various military training camps.

The head of staff section of the defense force, Lt Gen Hachalu Sheleme, recently said in an discussion that the military was in a "strong stance" as "numerous of recruits" were entering service, which he said was "a warning to our enemies".

Previous Background of the Tension

For over fifty years from the late 19th century, the territory was ruled by colonial powers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the UK forces before becoming a associated territory of Ethiopia.

Yet in the early 1960s the Ethiopian emperor ended this system and Eritrea became fully incorporated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long armed struggle followed, ending with the government's loss in 1991. Autonomy was then endorsed by Eritreans in a vote in 1993.

For a few years in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the authorities in Ethiopia's capital and Eritrea's capital, but they clashed over the exact location of their shared boundary, leading to conflict in 1998.

Even though this concluded in a peace deal in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations stayed at loggerheads.

This changed in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki. The two signed a declaration that the hostilities was finished – a action that gained Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.

The both administrations were then allies in the country's 2020-2022 internal conflict in Tigray.

But diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated anew.