Addis Ababa,— Ethiopia has reaffirmed what it describes as its legitimate strategic interests in the management of the Abay River, commonly known as the Blue Nile, and in the evolving security and maritime architecture of the Red Sea, calling for regional disputes to be addressed through dialogue, mutual respect and good-neighbourly relations.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that any discussion concerning the utilisation and management of the Abay River must take into account Ethiopia’s geographic position as the source of the river.
The Ministry noted that virtually all of the Blue Nile originates in the Ethiopian highlands and that the Abay contributes approximately 85 percent of the Nile River’s total flow. It argued that these geographic realities should form part of the basis for discussions on the river’s utilisation and management.
The statement also placed Ethiopia’s Red Sea interests within a broader geographic and historical context. According to the Ministry, changes in political boundaries over time have not eliminated Ethiopia’s longstanding geographic and historical connection to the Red Sea. It noted that Ethiopia’s nearest border lies approximately 30 miles from the coast and maintained that this proximity gives the country a legitimate interest in regional maritime affairs and the emerging security architecture of the Red Sea. “Any serious discussion of regional maritime affairs and security architecture must account for Ethiopia’s legitimate interests and its enduring connection to the Red Sea,” the Ministry stated.
Ethiopia’s position comes amid growing strategic attention to the Red Sea and the wider Horn of Africa, where maritime security, trade routes, territorial sovereignty and access to strategic waterways increasingly intersect with regional security and economic interests.
The Ministry argued that geographic and historical realities cannot be altered through political rhetoric, coercive measures or destabilising actions. It further stated that actions conducted through proxies or acts of aggression would not change Ethiopia’s regional interests or its responsibilities. At the same time, Addis Ababa reiterated that its preferred approach remains peaceful engagement and regional cooperation.
The Ministry affirmed Ethiopia’s readiness to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and core national interests, while calling on regional actors to address shared challenges through constructive dialogue rather than confrontation or zero-sum approaches.
Ethiopia’s statement places two strategically significant questions the future management of the Nile system and the evolving security architecture of the Red Sea within a single regional framework. The two issues have implications extending beyond Ethiopia’s immediate neighbourhood. The Nile is central to the livelihoods, agriculture, energy and development priorities of several countries, while the Red Sea connects the Horn of Africa to major international shipping and commercial routes.
For Ethiopia, the Ministry’s latest statement underscores the importance Addis Ababa attaches to ensuring that its geographic position, economic interests and national security considerations are reflected in regional discussions. For neighbouring states and international partners, the challenge remains to reconcile competing national interests while maintaining regional stability, respect for sovereignty and cooperation over shared resources and strategic spaces.
Ethiopia concluded its statement by reiterating its commitment to peaceful engagement and good-neighbourly relations, while maintaining that its sovereignty, territorial integrity and core national interests remain fundamental considerations in any regional framework concerning the Abay River, the Red Sea and the wider Horn of Africa.
