Ethiopia Should Join Regional Mechanisms to Safeguard Red Sea Security: French, Danish Defense Attachés

Addis Ababa, November 12, 2026 (ENA)— French and Danish Defense Attachés underscored Ethiopia’s legitimate interest in Red Sea access and its potential role in safeguarding maritime security and combating terrorism in the strategically important Horn of Africa.

Speaking to ENA, the defense attachés also said as a regional power, Ethiopia should get involved in mechanisms that can provide global security in the Horn of Africa.

French Defense Attaché Colonel Damien Cypryk said Ethiopia’s aspiration for access to the Red Sea is legitimate, given its importance to the country's development and stability.

 

“Access to the Red Sea for Ethiopia is a perfectly legitimate act because it is a question of development and stability,” he stated.

Currently, Ethiopia is actively pursuing permanent access to the Red Sea, citing its geographical, historical and economic circumstances.

The country’s geographical proximity to the Red Sea, together with its historical links to the region’s ports, has remained central to its push for securing a sovereign sea outlet.

Cypryk underscored the strategic importance of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Horn of Africa, describing them as a vital corridor whose security has far-reaching implications beyond the region.

He noted that developments in this strategically significant area could have repercussions across the African continent and the wider international community.

 

The defense attaché stressed that Ethiopia, as a regional power, has a legitimate role to play in regional security and should actively participate in mechanisms designed to safeguard peace and stability.

“I am convinced that Ethiopia, as a regional power, is absolutely legitimate to contribute to regional security, and it should get involved in mechanisms that can provide security in the region,” he said.

The French Defense Attaché further explained that France supports dialogue and negotiations as the appropriate means of addressing Ethiopia’s quest for sea access, noting that Paris, like many other countries, has strategic interests in the region and therefore promotes peace and stability.

On his part, Danish Defense Attaché to Ethiopia Commander Anders Lakjer highlighted Ethiopia’s potential contribution to combating terrorism and addressing growing threats to maritime security in the region.

 

“Ethiopia can play a very important role in terms of fighting terrorism and also all the threats against maritime security in the area,” he told ENA.

Lakjer called on countries capable of contributing to regional security to work together to strengthen maritime protection and counterterrorism efforts.