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The visit that excites Egypt: Israel is changing the rules of the game in Africa too

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's visit to Ethiopia last week was intended to promote economic and agricultural cooperation - but also for strategic and security purposes; the big gain - Ethiopia's access to the sea and thwarting terrorism in the region, the main loser - Egypt

The visit that excites Egypt: Israel is changing the rules of the game in Africa too© . (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar visited Ethiopia last week, where he met with the Ethiopian prime minister and foreign minister. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen ties between the two countries, especially in light of the Houthis' threats to the Bab el-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. On the western side of the strait is the Horn of Africa, where the countries of Djibouti and Eritrea are located - and also Ethiopia, although it has no coasts and is several dozen kilometers away from the sea.

According to reports in the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar, this meeting is worrying the Arab world - and especially Egypt, which has relatively tense relations with Ethiopia and a desire to maintain the internal security of the Horn of Africa countries - an issue that could be harmed if Israel, or even the United States, acts to thwart terrorism in the region. In addition, Ethiopia's cooperation with Israel could create another source of pressure on the Egyptians to establish a new reality in the Middle East.

Gideon Sa'ar during his visit to Ethiopia (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

In early April, Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Ngoz , confirmed that Addis Ababa’s efforts to access the sea are “legitimate,” and in line with the principles of regional negotiations and cooperation. This statement reflects the understandings between Israel and Ethiopia, and reinforces the perception that regional arrangements are already in the making.

Al-Akhbar claims that the top priority of Saar's visit to Ethiopia was to support Ethiopia's efforts to gain access to the Red Sea, which will likely come at the expense of Somalia - whose ports and coasts the United States (with the support of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia) wants to establish control over. Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia oppose the move in principle, while the other side claims that it is "vital for the continued development and prosperity of Ethiopia."

Another important issue that came up at the meeting, and was also mentioned in the press conference of the two foreign ministers, is the ongoing terrorist threat to Israel and Ethiopia - in the Horn of Africa region, there is terrorist activity coming from the Al-Shabaab organization, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda and operates mainly from Somali territory against neighboring countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya. The allegations that are being made are that they are cooperating with the Houthis - therefore cooperation between Israel and Ethiopia is essential to dealing with terrorism on both sides of the Red Sea.

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