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Growing apprehensions have emerged about the potential of military engagement among Horn of Africa countries, Ethiopia and the Eritrean government, as confrontational language has escalated in the past few weeks.

What Has Ethiopia Declared?

Ethiopia's, being landlocked, calls for access to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory has triggered a heated war of words.

Ethiopian Prime Minister first openly declared in the previous year that his country's maritime access was an vital issue, remarks that Eritrean authorities ignored.

Relations between the both governments have frequently been strained. After a decades-long fight for sovereignty, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) maritime frontage, officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, rendering it cut off from the sea.

Subsequently, a military clash started in which over a hundred thousand people died.

Latest Remarks from Ethiopian Government

Abiy and military leader General Birhanu Jula have publicly asserted sovereignty of Eritrean coastal city of Assab – about 60km from the border - and hinted at the intention to take it by force.

In early September, Abiy said Ethiopia's "blunder" of losing access to the Red Sea as a result of Eritrea's separation would be "addressed tomorrow".

The Ethiopian envoy to neighboring Kenya, former General Bacha Debele, said that Assab was "Ethiopia's wealth" and would be restored "by force".

Eritrea's Reaction to the Claims

Amid ongoing challenges from Ethiopia, Eritrea's reaction has been confined to concise remarks on online platforms from Information Minister the minister.

The minister has dismissed Ethiopian requests for sea access calling it "hazardous" and a "toxic agenda" of "expansionism" – a policy of retaking lost territory.

Government spokespeople alerted on recently that moves to validate "blatant hostility" would have major implications for the Ethiopian government and its neighbouring countries and is a "limit that should not be crossed|violated|breached".

Military Preparations on the Region

Currently, there are few indications of large-scale army activities in the border areas between the two countries.

However, in the country, state television has shown graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets at multiple army bases.

The director of personnel division of the defense force, the officer, commented lately in an discussion that the army was in a "secure situation" as "numerous of youths" were joining it, which he said was "a message to our adversaries".

Past Background of the Dispute

For decades from the late 19th century, the territory was administered by Italian rulers.

After Italy's defeat, it was then controlled by the British administration before evolving into a federated part of the Ethiopian empire.

Yet in 1962 the ruler terminated this agreement and the region became completely integrated into Ethiopia.

A three-decade long armed struggle ensued, finishing with military reversal in 1991. Independence was then endorsed by voters in a referendum in 1993.

Briefly in the 1990s, there were good relations between the authorities in Addis Ababa and Asmara, but they clashed over the specific demarcation of their common border, leading to conflict in 1998.

Although this finished in a truce in 2000, it was partially applied, and the two nations remained at odds.

This ended in 2018, when Abiy made approaches to Eritrean President President Isaias. The both leaders signed a announcement that the hostilities was concluded – a move that earned Abiy the international recognition.

The two governments were then allies in the country's recent civil war in Tigray.

But diplomatic connections have subsequently deteriorated again.