CAIRO — Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia have held high-level diplomatic consultations focused on security developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, underscoring growing coordination among the three countries at a time of shifting regional alliances and persistent geopolitical tensions.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met separately with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali in Cairo, where the officials discussed regional security, bilateral relations and efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation among their governments.
According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the talks reviewed the latest developments in the Horn of Africa and explored ways to enhance political coordination on issues of mutual concern. The discussions also highlighted the importance of maintaining regular consultations among the three countries amid ongoing security and political challenges across the region.
The meetings come as the Horn of Africa continues to face a complex mix of security threats, political transitions and regional rivalries. Concerns over maritime security in the Red Sea, the stability of Somalia, the conflict in Sudan and broader geopolitical competition have increasingly driven closer engagement between Cairo, Asmara and Mogadishu.
Egypt has repeatedly stressed that stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea is directly linked to its national security interests. Cairo views the strategic waterway as vital to global trade and international shipping, warning that instability in the region could have far-reaching economic and security consequences.
Officials also exchanged views on efforts to support peace, stability and state institutions in Somalia, while reaffirming support for the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity. Somalia remains engaged in military operations against Al-Shabaab militants and continues to seek stronger regional and international partnerships to address security challenges.
The consultations took place against the backdrop of broader diplomatic activity in the region. They followed a recent visit by Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to Eritrea, where he held talks with President Isaias Afwerki. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, developments in Sudan’s ongoing conflict and regional security issues.
Regional analysts say the Cairo meetings reflect an increasingly coordinated approach by Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia toward common security concerns. They note that the three countries have expanded diplomatic engagement over the past two years, particularly on issues related to Red Sea security, regional stability and respect for state sovereignty.
While Ethiopia was not part of the latest consultations, the discussions come amid continuing regional debate over access to the Red Sea and the future security architecture of the Horn of Africa. Observers say the absence of Addis Ababa from the talks is likely to attract attention given Ethiopia’s significant influence in the region and its involvement in several key diplomatic and security issues.
The consultations are expected to continue in the coming months as the three governments seek to deepen cooperation and coordinate their positions on regional developments, with security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea remaining at the center of their agenda.
