As of February 24, 2026, the prospect of a renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea has moved from theoretical concern to an imminent threat. Relations have deteriorated sharply following a series of diplomatic and military provocations. In a significant escalation, the Ethiopian government issued a formal demand this month for the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) to withdraw from Ethiopian territories, particularly in the northern Tigray and Amhara regions. Ethiopia has accused Asmara of 'funding, mobilising and directing' armed groups like the Fano militia in Amhara to destabilize the federal government. Conversely, Eritrea has rejected these claims as fabricated pretexts for aggression. The friction is compounded by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's intensified rhetoric regarding sovereign access to the Red Sea, a move the Eritrean government views as a direct threat to its territorial integrity. Diplomatic channels are reportedly failing as both nations prepare for a potential return to the hostilities that defined their shared history from 1998 to 2000.