ETHIOPIA (Kaab TV) – Ethiopia on Thursday accused Egypt of obstructing its ambitions to secure access to the sea and obtain a port, as diplomatic tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.

Speaking at a press conference, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nebiat Getachew said the Egyptian government is attempting to undermine Ethiopia’s efforts to gain strategic maritime access.

The spokesperson stressed that Ethiopia would never abandon its goal of securing a port, stating: “It is unacceptable for Ethiopia to remain a landlocked country.”

He also emphasized that Ethiopia’s population of 120 million people seeks its interests through dialogue and peaceful means.

Ethiopia’s remarks come shortly after Egypt and Eritrea announced an agreement to jointly safeguard security in the Red Sea.

Ethiopia and Egypt, which have long been at odds over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, are now increasingly clashing over influence and strategic interests in the Red Sea region.