​United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to pursue immediate de-escalation and dialogue with Eritrea to prevent wider regional instability.

​During a telephone conversation, the two leaders reviewed mounting tensions between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea, which have triggered international concerns over a potential renewal of conflict. Secretary Rubio emphasized that all governments in the Horn of Africa must strictly respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbors.

​The State Department highlighted that the international community expects all regional actors to refrain from cross-border incursions or hostile military movements. Rubio stressed that the volatile geopolitical landscape can no longer tolerate additional warfare, given the compounding humanitarian and economic crises already affecting East Africa.

​As a viable path forward, Washington underlined that any sustainable resolution to internal and external disputes must rely on diplomatic engagement. Specifically, the U.S. pointed back to the foundational principles of the historic 2018 Ethiopia-Eritrea peace agreement as the primary framework for settling grievances.

​Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have experienced continuous strain, compounded by broader regional disputes over strategic Red Sea access and internal security challenges. Observers note that sustained diplomatic pressure from international partners remains critical to steering both nations away from open confrontation.