Red Sea Sovereignty – Eritrea's Line in the Sand A Geopolitical Defense Against Ethiopian Expansionism In the geopolitically charged environment of the Horn of Africa, few narratives are as complex, contested, and consequential as that of Eritrea and Ethiopia. This book explores a critical and often misunderstood facet of the region’s volatile history and contemporary power dynamics: Eritrea's unwavering claim to sovereignty over its Red Sea coastline and its strategic positioning against Ethiopian expansionism. The roots of this conflict go beyond the 1998-2000 war or the 30-year liberation struggle. They lie deep in the legacies of colonial demarcation, imperial aspirations, and post-independence disillusionment. Eritrea, having achieved hard-won independence in 1993, emerged as a nation deeply aware of the strategic importance of its coastal geography. Its access to the Red Sea is not merely a matter of economic lifeline or national pride—it is an existential issue. This book is not simply about territorial boundaries—it is about power, survival, and influence. Ethiopia, the largest landlocked country in Africa, has for centuries cast an eye toward the sea as a gateway to international trade, strategic control, and geopolitical stature. Its desire to regain maritime access—particularly to Assab Port—has underpinned much of its foreign policy and military strategy since losing direct access to the Red Sea. And while these ambitions are often couched in terms of cooperation or mutual benefit, Eritrea views them through a more skeptical lens: as veiled attempts at domination and a reversal of the sovereignty it fought so hard to win. The Red Sea is one of the most heavily trafficked maritime corridors in the world. Stretching from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, it serves as a conduit for oil, goods, military operations, and global power plays. Control over ports along this corridor means more than regional influence—it means access to global leverage. With Gulf states, China, the United States, and the EU all establishing bases or security interests in the region, Eritrea’s position has never been more vital—or more vulnerable. This book analyzes the stakes involved in Eritrea’s maritime sovereignty and situates the conflict with Ethiopia within a broader framework of regional geopolitics, port militarization, and superpower intervention. It unpacks the ideology and realpolitik of both nations, offering historical context, strategic analysis, and a critical look at how small states like Eritrea navigate existential threats in an era of global flux. We will journey through the strategic value of Assab and Massawa, the legacy of colonialism and war, and the shadowy role of foreign actors fueling tensions. We will also explore how Eritrea’s national defense doctrine, often dismissed as authoritarian, may in fact be a calculated response to perceived encirclement and historical betrayal. In this work, “Red Sea Sovereignty” becomes more than a policy stance—it becomes a defining ethos of Eritrean identity. A line in the sand is not just a metaphor. It’s a declaration: that Eritrea, for all its challenges, will not be erased or encroached upon. That its Red Sea frontier is sacred, hard-earned, and non-negotiable. As we progress through each chapter, this book will aim not only to illuminate the intricacies of Eritrea’s defense against Ethiopian ambitions, but also to provide a voice to a nation often caricatured or misunderstood on the global stage.