Foreign relations of Eritrea

Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The foreign relations of Eritrea are the policies of the Eritrean government by which it administers its external relations with other nations. Since its independence, Eritrea's foreign relations have been dominated by conflict and confrontation, both in the regional and international arenas. It has maintained often troubled, and usually violent, relations with its neighbors, including brief armed conflicts with Yemen and Djibouti and a destructive war with its bigger-neighbour, Ethiopia. At present, Eritrea has very tense relations with neighboring Ethiopia and Djibouti. Relations in the international arena also have been strained since the last decade, particularly with major powers. What appeared cordial relations with the US in the 1990s turned acrimonious following the border war with Ethiopia, 1998-2000. Although the two nations have a close working relationship regarding the ongoing war on terror, there has been a growing tension in other areas. Ties with international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union have also been complicated in part because of Eritrea's outrage at their reluctance to force Ethiopia to accept a boundary commission ruling issued in 2002.

International organizations

Eritrea is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and is an observing member of the Arab League.

Eritrea holds a seat on the United Nations' Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).

Eritrea also holds memberships in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Permanent Court of Arbitration, Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa, and the World Customs Organization.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Eritrea maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Eritrea.svg
#	Country	Date
1	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
2	Yemen	Template:Dts
3	Argentina	Template:DTS
4	Italy	Template:DTS
5	Russia	Template:DTS
6	South Korea
7	Sudan	Template:Dts
8	North Korea	Template:Dts
9	Finland	Template:Dts
10	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
11	United States	Template:Dts
12	Mexico	Template:Dts
13	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
14	Qatar	Template:Dts
15	Djibouti	Template:Dts
16	China	Template:Dts
17	Jordan	Template:Dts
18	Poland	Template:Dts
19	Vietnam	Template:Dts
20	Sweden	Template:Dts
21	Indonesia	Template:Dts
22	Germany	Template:Dts
23	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
24	Egypt	Template:Dts
25	Hungary	Template:Dts
26	Japan	Template:Dts
27	Lebanon	Template:Dts
28	Kenya	Template:Dts
29	India	Template:Dts
30	Denmark	Template:Dts
31	Spain	Template:Dts
32	Kuwait	Template:Dts
33	Tunisia	Template:Dts
34	Israel	Template:Dts
35	Canada	Template:Dts
36	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
37	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
38	Romania	Template:Dts
39	Australia	Template:Dts
40	Pakistan	Template:Dts
41	Thailand	Template:Dts
42	Singapore	Template:Dts
43	Ukraine	Template:Dts
44	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
45	Namibia	Template:Dts
46	Uganda	Template:Dts
47	Austria	Template:Dts
48	Norway	Template:Dts
49	Switzerland	Template:Dts
50	France	Template:Dts
51	Algeria	Template:Dts
52	Belgium	Template:Dts
53	Oman	Template:Dts
54	Syria	Template:Dts
55	Morocco	Template:Dts
56	Turkey	Template:Dts
57	Netherlands	Template:Dts
58	Zambia	Template:Dts
58	Armenia	Template:Dts
60	Colombia	Template:Dts
61	Slovakia	Template:Dts
62	South Africa	Template:Dts
63	Portugal	Template:Dts
64	Greece	Template:Dts
65	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
66	Bahrain	Template:Dts
67	Slovenia	Template:Dts
68	Bosnia and Herzegovina
69	Brazil	Template:Dts
70	Cuba	Template:Dts
71	Philippines	Template:Dts
72	Malaysia	Template:Dts
73	Libya	Template:Dts
74	Lithuania	Template:Dts
75	Belarus	Template:Dts
76	Nigeria	Template:Dts
77	Croatia	Template:Dts
78	New Zealand	Template:Dts
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	Template:Dts
79	Template:Country data North Macedonia
80	Cyprus	Template:Dts
81	Somalia	Template:Dts
82	Ireland	Template:Dts
83	Seychelles	Template:Dts
84	Venezuela	Template:Dts
85	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
86	Mauritius	Template:Dts
87	Brunei	Template:Dts
88	Ghana	Template:Dts
89	Iceland	Template:Dts
90	Estonia	Template:Dts
91	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
92	San Marino	Template:Dts
93	Iran
94	Tanzania	Template:Dts
95	Dominican Republic
96	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
97	Montenegro	Template:Dts
98	Luxembourg
99	Malta	Template:Dts
100	Cambodia	Template:Dts
101	Paraguay	Template:Dts
102	Fiji	Template:Dts
103	Solomon Islands	Template:Dts
104	South Sudan	Template:Dts
105	Mali	Template:Dts
106	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
107	Angola
108	Latvia	Template:Dts
109	Serbia	Template:Dts
110	Mozambique	Template:Dts
111	Ecuador	Template:Dts
112	Mongolia	Template:Dts
113	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
114	Senegal	Template:Dts
115	Lesotho	Template:Dts
116	Mauritania	Template:Dts
117	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
118	Eswatini	Template:Dts
119	Madagascar	Template:Dts
120	Rwanda	Template:Dts
121	Malawi	Template:Dts
122	Nepal	Template:Dts
123	Guinea	Template:Dts
124	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
125	Maldives	Template:Dts
126	Dominica	Template:Dts
127	Chad	Template:Dts
128	Jamaica	Template:Dts
129	Niger	Template:Dts
130	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
131	Uzbekistan	Template:Dts

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Croatia	4 June 1999	See Croatia–Eritrea relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 June 1999
Denmark	28 September 1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 September 1993 See Denmark–Eritrea relations
Ethiopia	22 May 1993	See Eritrea–Ethiopia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 May 1993 when first Ambassador of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia's to Eritrea Mr. Awalom Woldu Tuku presented his credentials to President Issaias Afwerki. Diplomatic relations were broken on 12 May 1998 when Ethiopia and Eritrea went to war over the disputed border area of Badme. Diplomatic relations were restored on 8 July 2018 In December 2000, Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace treaty ending their war and created a pair of binding judicial commissions, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission and the Eritrean-Ethiopian Claims Commission, to rule on their disputed border and related claims. In April 2002 The Commission released its decision (with a clarification in 2003). Disagreements following the war have resulted in stalemate punctuated by periods of elevated tension and renewed threats of war. Since these decisions Ethiopia has refused to permit the physical demarcation of the border while Eritrea insists the border must be demarcated as defined by the commission. Consequently, the Boundary Commission ruled boundary as virtually demarcated and effective. Eritrea maintains a military force on its border with Ethiopia roughly equal in size to Ethiopia's force, which has required a general mobilization of a significant portion of the population. Eritrea has viewed this border dispute as an existential threat to itself in particular and the African Union in general, because it deals with the supremacy of colonial boundaries in Africa. Since the border conflict Ethiopia no longer uses Eritrean ports for its trade. During the border conflict and since, Ethiopia has fostered militants against Eritrea (including ethnic separatists and religiously based organizations). Eritrea has retaliated by hosting militant groups against Ethiopia as well. The United Nations Security Council argues that Eritrea and Ethiopia have expanded their dispute to a second theater, Somalia. In March 2012, Ethiopia attacked Eritrean army outposts along the border. Addis Ababa said the assault was in retaliation for the training and support given by Asmara to subversives while Eritrea said the U.S. knew of the attacks, an accusation denied by U.S. officials. In July 2018, leaders both countries signed a peace treaty to put a formal end to a state of war between both nations paving the way for greater economic cooperation and improved ties between them. Eritrea has an embassy in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia has an embassy in Asmara.
Germany	3 August 1993	See Eritrea–Germany relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 August 1993
Israel	24 May 1993	See Eritrea–Israel relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 May 1993. Eritrea developed relations with Israel shortly after gaining its independence in 1993, despite protests among Arab countries. Israeli-Eritrean relations are close. The president of Eritrea has visited Israel for medical treatment. However, Eritrea condemned Israeli military action during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. Israeli-Eritrean ties are complicated by Israel's close ties to Ethiopia, who have shared an unfriendly dyad with Eritrea for a long time.
Italy	24 May 1993	See Eritrea–Italy relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 May 1993 Eritrea has an embassy in Rome and a consulate in Milan. Italy has an embassy in Asmara.
Mexico	23 June 1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1993 Eritrea is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to Eritrea from its embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
North Korea	1993	Despite Pyongyang's alignment with Ethiopia during the Eritrean War of Independence, Eritrea has maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea since the 1990s. Covert military ties also exist between Eritrea and North Korea.
Qatar	5 July 1993	During the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, Eritrea refused a request by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to cut relations with Qatar, citing its "strong ties with the brother people of Qatar."
Russia	24 May 1993	See Eritrea–Russia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 May 1993
Sudan	24 May 1993, diplomatic relations were broken from 5 December 1994 to 2 May 1999	Eritrea broke diplomatic relations with the Sudan in December 1994. This action was taken after a long period of increasing tension between the two countries due to a series of cross-border incidents involving the Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ). Although the attacks did not pose a threat to the stability of the Government of Eritrea (the infiltrators have generally been killed or captured by government forces), the Eritreans believe the National Islamic Front (NIF) in Khartoum supported, trained, and armed the insurgents. After many months of negotiations with the Sudanese to try to end the incursions, the Government of Eritrea concluded that the NIF did not intend to change its policy and broke relations. Subsequently, the Government of Eritrea hosted a conference of Sudanese opposition leaders in June 1995 in an effort to help the opposition unite and to provide a credible alternative to the present government in Khartoum. Eritrea resumed diplomatic relations with Sudan on December 10, 2005. Since then, Sudan has accused Eritrea, along with Chad, of supporting rebels. The undemarcated border with Sudan previously posed a problem for Eritrean external relations. After a high-level delegation to the Sudan from the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ties are being normalized. While normalization of ties continues, Eritrea has been recognized as a broker for peace between the separate factions of the Sudanese civil war. "It is known that Eritrea played a role in bringing about the peace agreement [between the Southern Sudanese and Government]," while the Sudanese Government and Eastern Front rebels have requested Eritrea to mediate peace talks. The Eritrean President, Isaias Afewerki, and his Sudanese counterpart Omar Al-Bashir held talks in Asmara on a number of bilateral issues of mutual concern to the two East African countries. The talks dealt with enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation including making their shared border more open. Sudan and Eritrea agreed to abolish entry visa requirements, opening their common borders for free movement of both nationals. In 2011, Eritrea and Sudan cooperated in the building of the Kassala-Al Lafa Highway linking the two countries.
Turkey	19 July 1993	See also Eritrea–Turkey relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 July 1993 The Embassy of Eritrea in Doha is accredited to Turkey. Turkey has an embassy in Asmara. Trade volume between the two countries was US$13.9 million in 2019.
United Arab Emirates	28 June 1993	The United Arab Emirates are a member of the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed is quoted stating the UAE are using "logistical facilities at the port and airport" in the southern city of Assab. Human Rights Watch reported that the UAE maintains a detention facility at the Assab base, where it may have transferred high-profile prisoners out of Yemen.
United Kingdom		See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Eritrea established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 16 November 1993. Eritrea maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Eritrea through its embassy in Asmara. The UK administered Eritrea from 1941 to 1952, when Eritrea united with Ethiopia into a federation.
United States	11 June 1993	See Eritrea–United States relations Diplomatic relations between the United States and the State of Eritrea were established on June 11, 1993. Eritrea has an embassy in Washington, D.C. The United States has an embassy in Asmara.
Yemen	24 May 1993	A dispute with Yemen over the Hanish Islands in 1996 resulted in a brief war. As part of an agreement to cease hostilities, the nations agreed to refer the issue to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. At the conclusion of the proceedings, both nations acquiesced to the 1998 decision which said sovereignty should be shared.

See also

• Arab–Eritrean relations
• Eritrea–United States relations
• Denmark–Eritrea relations
• List of diplomatic missions in Eritrea
• List of diplomatic missions of Eritrea