Ethiopia's push for Red Sea access risks regional war, warns former US official

Ethiopia's military advances in the northern Tigray region have heightened fears of a wider conflict with neighbouring Eritrea, as federal forces and their allies reportedly regain control of several strategic cities, including Axum. Cameron Hudson, former Director for African Affairs at the White House National Security Council, told Al Jazeera that the situation is extremely dangerous, warning that Ethiopian forces could cross into Eritrea and advance towards the strategically important Red Sea port of Assab. He said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had urged Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to exercise restraint and avoid entering Eritrean territory. Hudson acknowledged Ethiopia's legitimate economic interest in securing access to the Red Sea but warned that its ambitions to establish a naval presence could destabilise the region and alarm neighbouring countries, including Egypt. He also criticised the international community for failing to ensure the implementation of the 2022 Tigray peace agreement, which excluded Eritrea, arguing that diplomatic disengagement has contributed to the renewed fighting. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Ethiopia #Eritrea #Tigray #AbiyAhmed #NorthernEthiopia #Assab #RedSea #EthiopiaEritreaTensions #TigrayConflict #EthiopianArmy #MarcoRubio #AfricanUnion #HornOfAfrica #AlJazeeraEnglish