ASMARA — In a significant shift in Horn of Africa diplomacy, the United States is preparing to lift sweeping sanctions against Eritrea, according to an internal government document seen by Reuters on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The decision marks a major pivot in Washington’s regional strategy, driven by the strategic necessity of securing the Red Sea’s western coast as the ongoing conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global energy supplies. The sanctions, originally imposed in 2021 by the Biden administration, targeted Eritrea’s military and the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Analysts note that the rapprochement, brokered with the help of regional partners like Egypt, aims to establish a secure maritime flank and send a clear message to Ethiopia to avoid military escalation in its pursuit of sea access. The Trump administration is expected to officially rescind the relevant executive orders by the end of the week, signaling a new era of transactional engagement with Asmara as a key security partner in the Red Sea corridor.