USA, 28, September 2025 – Eritrea has reaffirmed sovereign control over its ports, declaring that any arrangements for their use must be negotiated bilaterally and solely for commercial purposes.
The government's position was delivered during the 24th Ministerial Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) held on September 26 in New York.
Eritrea, a coastal state on the Red Sea, shares a long border with Ethiopia, one of Africa’s largest landlocked countries. The issue of port access has long been a cause of regional tension, as Ethiopia depends on foreign ports for its trade routes.
In his address, Eritrea's Foreign Minister, Osman Saleh, welcomed the Awaza Programme of Action, adopted at the Third UN Conference on LLDCs in Turkmenistan, as a vital framework for tackling challenges faced by landlocked nations.
He stressed that cooperation among states is a necessity, not a choice, and must be grounded in the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and non-interference.
The Minister said Eritrea’s ports are national assets and are not open for foreign military or naval use.
“Any arrangements for their use, whether commercial or logistical, are matters to be negotiated directly and bilaterally between Eritrea and the partner of its choosing,” he noted, referring to international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which recognizes sovereign control over ports.
Saleh called for a paradigm shift from transactional deals to strategic partnerships, emphasizing stronger regional cooperation to reduce trade costs, improve market access, and foster stability.
He highlighted that such integration is not only an economic matter but also a means of unlocking human potential and achieving sustainable development.