A senior United States official has dismissed reports that Washington is negotiating a secret agreement with Eritrea, describing the claims as false and reaffirming the Trump administration’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa through diplomacy.
President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, made the clarification amid growing speculation over increased US diplomatic engagement with Eritrea, Ethiopia and Egypt—three countries central to ongoing disputes over regional security, access to the Red Sea and the sharing of Nile waters.
In a statement posted on X, Boulos said the United States remains committed to engaging all three countries in pursuit of lasting regional peace.
“The Trump administration continues to pursue regional peace through diplomatic engagements with Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia,” he wrote.
He dismissed reports suggesting that Washington was negotiating a secret arrangement involving Eritrea at the expense of another regional partner.
“Let me be unequivocally clear: claims that we are negotiating or considering any secret deal involving Eritrea against another regional partner are categorically false. No such agreement exists, and no such arrangement is under discussion,” Boulos stated.
Although he did not identify the unnamed “regional partner,” observers believe the remarks were directed at Ethiopia, whose relationship with Eritrea and Egypt has been marked by years of political, diplomatic and security tensions.
The clarification comes as Washington increases its diplomatic engagement with Eritrea, a strategically important Red Sea nation whose more than 1,000-kilometre coastline has heightened its significance amid growing security concerns in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The Red Sea has become a major focus of international attention following repeated attacks on commercial shipping by Iran-backed Houthi rebels operating from Yemen, prompting increased efforts by global powers to strengthen regional security partnerships.
Boulos has previously met with Eritrean officials as part of efforts to improve bilateral relations. He has also held discussions with Egyptian leaders, with Cairo playing a role in facilitating diplomatic contacts between Washington and Asmara.
The renewed diplomatic engagement has fuelled speculation among regional analysts that Eritrea could become part of a broader strategic alignment involving Egypt and other countries concerned about Ethiopia’s expanding regional influence.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have remained fragile despite the restoration of diplomatic ties in 2018, following a border war that lasted from 1998 to 2000. The relationship later deteriorated over Eritrea’s involvement in Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict and lingering disagreements over regional security and access to the Red Sea.
Ethiopia also continues to face a longstanding dispute with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). While Addis Ababa views the hydroelectric project as essential to its economic development, Egypt has repeatedly expressed concerns over its potential impact on downstream Nile water flows.
Boulos said the United States’ ongoing engagement with Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia is intended to foster lasting peace and stability across the Horn of Africa. He also cautioned against the spread of misinformation, warning that unfounded speculation about alleged regional agreements could undermine diplomatic efforts.
The Trump administration has, in recent months, intensified its focus on the Horn of Africa, where competition for influence over the Red Sea, maritime security and unresolved regional conflicts continues to attract growing international attention.
