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Mounting concerns have emerged over the possibility of military engagement among Horn of Africa countries, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as aggressive discourse has ratcheted up in recent weeks.

What Did Ethiopia Said?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, demands for access to the maritime outlet through Eritrea has sparked a intense verbal exchange.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in the previous year that his nation's maritime access was an existential matter, statements that Eritrean authorities dismissed.

Diplomatic connections between the two countries have often been tense. Following a long-standing battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) sea border, legally broke away from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, rendering it landlocked.

In 1998, a border war started in which over a hundred thousand people were killed.

Latest Statements from Ethiopian Officials

Prime Minister Abiy and army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted ownership of Eritrean coastal city of the port of Assab – some 60 km from the border - and implied the intention to take it by force.

On 1 September, Abiy said the country's "blunder" of losing access to the sea as a due to Eritrean independence would be "rectified tomorrow".

Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, said that the port was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be given back "through military action".

Eritrean Reaction to the Threats

Amid persistent warnings from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been limited to brief comments on online platforms from Communications Head Yemane G..

He has rejected Ethiopian requests for access to the Red Sea labeling it "risky" and a "harmful plan" of "territorial claims" – a policy of claiming back previous domains.

Eritrean authorities alerted on mid-September that efforts to justify "flagrant aggression" would have serious consequences for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Security Movements on the Border

Currently, there are little evidence of major military movements in the frontier regions between the both nations.

Nonetheless, in the country, national TV has broadcast completion events of many recruits at multiple army bases.

The leader of personnel division of the armed forces, General Hachalu, stated recently in an interview that the defense forces was in a "reliable position" as "numerous of recruits" were entering service, which he said was "a message to our opponents".

Previous Origins of the Dispute

For more than half a century from the late 19th century, the territory was ruled by Italian colonisers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then managed by the UK forces before evolving into a integrated region of Ethiopia.

However in 1962 Emperor Haile Selassie I terminated this system and the region became completely integrated into the Ethiopian state.

A three-decade long armed struggle ensued, concluding with the government's loss in the early 1990s. Autonomy was then endorsed by voters in a plebiscite in 1993.

Temporarily in the 1990s, there were friendly connections between the governments in Ethiopia's capital and Asmara, but they disagreed over the precise positioning of their mutual frontier, leading to conflict in 1998.

Although this ended in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the neighbors continued at odds.

This changed in 2018, when the Prime Minister made approaches to Eritrean President the president. The both leaders endorsed a declaration that the war was concluded – a action that won Abiy the international recognition.

The neighboring states were then partners in Ethiopia's recent armed struggle in the northern region.

However diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated again.