Eritrea Steps Up Diplomatic Outreach at UNGA80 with U.S. and European Officials
Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, signaling renewed momentum in the country’s international engagement after years of strained ties.
On Wednesday, Saleh met with Massad Fares Boulos, Senior Advisor for African Affairs to U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The talks centered on possibilities for a reset in U.S.–Eritrea relations, with both sides highlighting the need for constructive dialogue and cooperation on security, stability, and development in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.
Diplomatic sources described the meeting as “forward-looking,” with discussions touching on potential cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and security. The two sides agreed to continue exchanges in the months ahead, opening the door to what could become the first serious effort at rapprochement between Asmara and Washington in more than a decade.
Broader Engagement with Europe
The U.S. talks came amid a flurry of Eritrean diplomacy with European counterparts. Saleh also met with Annette Weber, the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, and Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
In discussions with Weber, both sides underscored the importance of maritime security in the Red Sea and affirmed their commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity as cornerstones of regional peace. Weber acknowledged Eritrea’s role in safeguarding shipping lanes through one of the world’s most strategic waterways.
Talks with Sweden focused on enhancing bilateral relations, as well as exchanging views on the fragile peace and security environment across the Horn of Africa.
Strategic Context
The outreach highlights Eritrea’s emerging role as a stabilizing force at a time of turmoil in the region. Sudan remains engulfed in a war driven by external interference, Ethiopia faces multiple internal conflicts while heightening rhetoric over Red Sea access, and Somalia continues to battle chronic insecurity.
Analysts note that Eritrea’s stability and geostrategic location along the Red Sea give it added weight in international discussions on maritime security, counterterrorism, and trade. Observers also recall that both President Isaias Afwerki and President Trump had previously signaled readiness to explore a relationship based on mutual respect - a factor that may now be resurfacing on the diplomatic agenda.
With further meetings expected in the coming months, Eritrea is positioning itself as a willing partner in efforts to strengthen sovereignty, security, and sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.