WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy has criticised Egypt and Eritrea’s position on Red Sea security, arguing that it is flawed to claim only coastal states should determine the future of one of the world’s most strategic waterways.
In a post on social media, Nagy said that if the principle advanced by Egypt and Eritrea were accepted, then countries along the Nile River alone should also have the exclusive right to decide how its waters are used.
“That argument makes no sense when it comes to managing international resources and waterways,” said Nagy, who served as U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia from 1999 to 2002.
His remarks come as Ethiopia intensifies diplomatic efforts to secure sea access, with Addis Ababa arguing that obtaining reliable access to a port is a matter of national security and economic development.
Landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, Ethiopia has repeatedly said it needs sustainable maritime access to safeguard its trade and strategic interests.
Egypt, backed by Eritrea, has maintained that responsibility for Red Sea security should rest primarily with the region’s coastal states, a position that has drawn criticism from some international analysts and policymakers.
The United States has previously described the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as strategic waterways vital to global trade, energy shipments and humanitarian aid, stressing that their security affects countries well beyond the region.
Debate over the future of the Red Sea has intensified in recent weeks as Yemen’s Houthi movement has stepped up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns over regional stability and the potential impact on global commerce.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly said securing maritime access remains a national priority, arguing that reliance on neighbouring countries’ ports poses long-term economic and security challenges for Ethiopia.
