US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for calm and diplomatic engagement amid rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, warning against further conflict in the Horn of Africa.
Rubio made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, in which the two leaders discussed the deteriorating relations between the neighbouring countries.
According to a statement issued by US State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott, Rubio backed efforts by all sides to reduce tensions and encouraged dialogue as the way forward in resolving disagreements.
The Secretary of State said lasting peace in the region would depend on countries choosing diplomatic engagement over confrontation. He pointed to the 2018 Ethiopia-Eritrea peace framework, saying it provided a basis for addressing both domestic and cross-border tensions through dialogue.
Rubio also underscored the need for countries across the Horn of Africa to respect one another’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He warned against cross-border incursions, stressing that regional stability would be difficult to achieve if neighbouring states continued to engage in actions that threatened one another’s borders.
The US position, as outlined in the statement, is that disputes should be addressed through peaceful means rather than actions that could trigger further instability.
The call comes amid heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, two countries whose relations have been marked by years of conflict and periods of diplomatic engagement.
In 2018, Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement that formally ended their state of war and opened the way for renewed relations after decades of hostility.
The agreement followed a decision by Ethiopia to accept the terms of the 2000 Algiers Agreement, which had sought to end the earlier border conflict.
However, relations between the two countries have remained sensitive, with concerns over security and regional interests continuing to shape their interactions.
Rubio emphasised that the Horn of Africa could not afford another conflict, urging all countries in the region to avoid steps that could worsen the situation.
The United States has called for de-escalation by all parties, with the State Department maintaining that dialogue and engagement remain central to achieving a sustainable resolution.
Pigott’s statement did not provide further details about the discussion between Rubio and Abiy or indicate whether any specific diplomatic measures had been agreed upon during the call.
