Sea access for Ethiopia:Harnessing the power of diplomatic ties

The Red Sea serves as a crucial maritime route connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Ensuring fair utilization of the Red Sea and its ports facilitates trade and economic connectivity between the Horn of Africa and the Arab states. It enables the movement of goods, encourages investment and promotes economic growth in the region.

The Red Sea region is home to important energy resources and trade routes. Access to these resources and ensuring the safe passage of oil and gas shipments through the Red Sea is vital for the energy security of both the Horn countries and the Arab states. Regional integration can enhance cooperation in the energy sector, leading to increased energy trade, infrastructure development, and energy diversification.

Cooperation and integration among the Red Sea countries and the Arab states contribute to regional security and stability. Collaborative efforts in maritime security, counterterrorism, and border management can help address common threats and challenges. Enhanced cooperation also reduces the potential for conflicts and tensions, fostering peaceful relations and stability in the region.

The Red Sea and its coastal ecosystems are home to diverse marine life and delicate ecosystems. By promoting regional integration, countries can work together to address environmental challenges such as pollution, overfishing, and climate change impacts. Collaborative efforts in conservation, sustainable fishing practices, and marine resource management can help protect the Red Sea’s unique biodiversity and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Regional integration fosters cultural exchanges, people-to-people contacts, and mutual understanding among nations. It provides opportunities for educational, scientific, and cultural collaborations, promoting social cohesion and cross-cultural dialogue. Such connections can strengthen the bonds between the Horn countries and the Arab states, leading to greater cultural appreciation and cooperation.

Effective port utilization among the Horn countries, namely Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea, plays a crucial role in promoting regional integration and development in the region. These countries are strategically located along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, making their ports vital gateways for trade and economic activities.

Eritrea’s ports, particularly the Port of Massawa and the Port of Assab, have the potential to become important regional trade hubs. However, due to political and diplomatic challenges in the past, their utilization has been limited. With the recent improvement in relations between Eritrea and its neighbors, there is an opportunity for increased regional cooperation and utilization of Eritrean ports, which would contribute to regional integration and development.

Overall, effective port utilization among the Horn countries is crucial for regional integration and development. Investments in port infrastructure, streamlined customs procedures, improved logistics, and cooperation among these nations are vital to unlocking the region’s economic potential, boosting trade, and fostering greater integration for the benefit of all countries involved.

Ethiopia, a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa, has long recognized the importance of gaining access to the sea. With no direct coastline, Ethiopia’s aspirations to establish robust diplomatic ties with the Arabian Peninsula and increase its influence in global politics hold immense strategic significance. As a result, it is a right and critical time to explore the importance of sea access for Ethiopia and the potential benefits it can derive from strengthening its diplomatic relationships, drawing upon relevant world experiences.

Access to the sea would open up Ethiopia’s landlocked economy to international trade routes, facilitating the import and export of goods. It would enhance the country’s economic growth and diversification by reducing transportation costs and expanding market access. This connectivity promotes economic interdependence, encourages peace and stability, and enhances diplomatic relations.

The presence of a coastline allows for the development of ports, logistics’ hubs, and industrial zones, attracting foreign investment and catalyzing infrastructure development both within Ethiopia and across the region.

Establishing robust diplomatic ties with the Arabian Peninsula and other maritime nations provides Ethiopia with increased political clout in global forums. It allows Ethiopia to actively participate in regional and international decision-making processes, thereby shaping policies that align with its national interests.

Closer diplomatic relations with maritime nations create opportunities for security cooperation, including joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts. Such collaborations enhance Ethiopia’s security architecture and contribute to regional stability.

Several countries have successfully leveraged sea access and diplomatic ties to bolster their geopolitical influence:

Ethiopia, a landlocked nation in the Horn of Africa, has long played a crucial role in the geo-political dynamics of the Red Sea region. Blessed with a rich history, diverse culture, and significant economic potential, Ethiopia finds itself at a critical juncture as it navigates the complexities of world politics in the context of the Red Sea.

Situated at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Ethiopia’s strategic location grants it immense geopolitical importance. The country’s proximity to the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and major shipping lanes makes it a key player in regional trade and connectivity. However, being a landlocked country, Ethiopia faces challenges in accessing the sea and fully harnessing the benefits of its strategic location.

To address this, Ethiopia has been pursuing diplomatic efforts to strengthen its ties with neighboring countries and establish access to ports and maritime routes. One significant development in this regard is the recent peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which ended decades of hostility and opened up new possibilities for regional integration.

Through the peace agreement, Ethiopia gained the opportunity to access to Eritrea’s ports, particularly the Port of Assab and the Port of Massawa. This access provides Ethiopia with a direct gateway to the Red Sea and international trade routes. It reduces the country’s dependence on other neighboring countries’ ports, such as Djibouti, and diversifies its options for import and export activities.

Furthermore, Ethiopia has been actively engaging with other maritime nations in the region, such as Djibouti and Somalia, to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties. Djibouti, in particular, has emerged as a vital partner for Ethiopia, providing crucial port infrastructure and logistics services. The two countries have been collaborating on various projects, including the development of the Djibouti-Ethiopia railway and the establishment of industrial parks.

Ethiopia’s efforts to establish sea access and strengthen diplomatic ties have the potential to bring about significant economic and strategic benefits. Improved connectivity to the sea enables Ethiopia to attract foreign investment, expand its export markets, and enhance its competitiveness in global trade. It also facilitates the development of industrial zones, special economic zones, and transportation infrastructure, which contribute to job creation and economic growth.

Moreover, sea access enhances Ethiopia’s regional integration efforts and strengthens its position in regional and international forums. By actively participating in discussions and initiatives related to maritime security, trade facilitation, and regional cooperation, Ethiopia can shape policies that align with its interests and contribute to peace and stability in the Red Sea region.

In conclusion, sea access holds great importance for Ethiopia’s economic development, geopolitical influence, and regional integration efforts. By harnessing the power of diplomatic ties with neighboring countries and leveraging strategic partnerships, Ethiopia can unlock the benefits of its location, enhance its trade connectivity, and play a more significant role in the dynamics of the Red Sea region.

Moreover, the deliberately demarcated line presumably to deny access to sea Ethiopia is the neo colonial agenda and building wall of vengeance among the Horn fraternity and paying legacy for the colonizers that had been defeated at the battle of Adwa and still considered to be the most precarious war and the beacon for Africans that had been on the darkness.

Amid all these, the African countries and fellow neighbors should enter venture and truth to emancipate them from unjust as nations are not prohibited from accessing to the sea once it had been part of it.

BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER 2023