Egypt and Saudi Arabia Seek Stronger Ties with Eritrea Amid UAE-Ethiopia Alliance

Following the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) deepening ties with Ethiopia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are reportedly turning their attention to Eritrea.

Eritrea, strategically located on the Red Sea, has emerged as a focal point for Arab powers seeking influence in the region. Analysts note that the country is increasingly viewed as a key player in the ongoing competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to Middle East Eye.

Egypt is currently negotiating a broader security partnership between Eritrea and Saudi Arabia, two Arab officials familiar with recent diplomatic activity told Middle East Eye. Cairo’s efforts are seen as a direct response to the UAE’s expanding military cooperation with Ethiopia, aimed at counterbalancing Emirati influence.

Officials added that the momentum behind these talks stems from a defense agreement signed last January between the Sudanese army and Pakistan. The deal, widely believed to be financed by Saudi Arabia, has yet to be fully implemented, with weapons deliveries still pending.

According to Middle East Eye, Pakistan Air Force Chief of Staff Zahir Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Saudi Air Force Lieutenant General Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz brokered the agreement on behalf of Sudanese Army Chief Abdul Fattah al-Burhan. This trilateral diplomacy underscores the increasingly complex and fluid alliances shaping the Red Sea region.

The report further highlights that Eritrea and Egypt once maintained close ties with the UAE. While relations between Cairo and Abu Dhabi remain intact, they have been strained by disagreements over the Sudanese civil war and the Gaza conflict.

Eritrea previously served as a hub for the UAE’s military campaign in Yemen. However, the Emirates shut down its base in the port city of Assab in 2021 and has since shifted toward a closer military partnership with Ethiopia, Middle East Eye reported.