Ethiopia and Eritrea leaders to reportedly meet soon
The leaders of arch-enemies Ethiopia and Eritrea will meet soon for the first time in nearly two decades, Ethiopian state media reported on 28 June.
Senior Eritrean officials arrived in Ethiopia earlier in the week of 25 June in the first official visit between the two nations since a 1998-2000 border war left relations in tatters.
The state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate said: ‘Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki will meet soon.’
The diplomatic thaw comes in response to an olive branch extended by Abiy.
The premier announced earlier in June 2018 that Ethiopia would cede territory it has continued to occupy despite a UN-backed boundary commission ruling in 2002 that the land belonged to Eritrea.
Eritrea has used what it calls Ethiopia's illegal occupation to freeze relations with Addis Ababa. The tensions have also been used to justify repressive domestic policies including an indefinite national service programme that the UN says amounts to slavery.
A one-time province of Ethiopia that comprised its entire coastline, Eritrea voted for independence in 1993 after a decades-long conflict, but the two countries went to war five years later over the demarcation of their border.
The 1998-2000 conflict killed more than 80,000 people and led to a lengthy cold war between the two closely-related nations.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![How might European countries look to tackle drone incursions?]()
How might European countries look to tackle drone incursions?
Disruption of infrastructure in Europe, whether by cyberattack, physical damage to pipelines or uncrewed aerial vehicles flying over major airports, as has happened more recently, is on the rise. What is the most effective way of countering the aerial aspect of this not-so-open warfare?
-
![Taiwan approved for $11 billion weapon purchase from US]()
Taiwan approved for $11 billion weapon purchase from US
The US State Department’s approval of a multi-billion-dollar sale of weapons to Taiwan includes tactical mission networks equipment, uncrewed aerial systems, artillery rocket systems and self-propelled howitzers as well as anti-tank guided missiles.
-
![Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan]()
Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan
Ireland’s multi-annual investment in capital defence spending is set to rise from €300m in 2026 to €360m in 2029–2030 with major upgrades across land, air, maritime and cyber domains.
-
![Canada to deepen integration of multi-domain capabilities to strengthen its defences]()
Canada to deepen integration of multi-domain capabilities to strengthen its defences
The Canadian Department of National Defence has created new organisations to manage the procurement and integration of all-domain solutions and allocated US$258.33 million to strengthen production capacities.
-
![US National Security Strategy prioritises advanced military capabilities and national industry]()
US National Security Strategy prioritises advanced military capabilities and national industry
The 2025 NSS has emphasised investment in the US nuclear and air defence inventory and national industry, but it leaves multiple unanswered questions on how the White House will implement this approach.
-
![Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners]()
Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners
While non-EU UK struggles to join the Security Action for Europe initiative, which provides loans for defence programmes, Canada has become the first country outside Europe to get access – and did so for a nominal fee.
