• Ethiopia demands Eritrea to withdraw troops amid rising tensions.
• Accusations include Eritrean support for rebel groups in Ethiopia.
• The relationship soured post the Tigray conflict resolution in 2022.
• Ethiopian officials seek dialogue but condemn Eritrean actions as aggressive.
• Historical context includes a previous war between the two nations.

Ethiopia has formally requested Eritrea to immediately withdraw its troops from its territory, amidst accusations of military aggression and support for armed groups operating within Ethiopian borders. This demand was articulated in a letter from Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, which cited the need for Eritrea to cease its alleged involvement with rebel groups and recognize Ethiopia's territorial integrity, according to BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply since Eritrea was not included in the peace agreement that concluded the Tigray conflict in 2022. In his letter, Timothewos claimed that Eritrean forces have occupied parts of Ethiopian territory for an extended period and have been conducting joint military exercises with armed factions opposed to the Ethiopian government. "The incursion of Eritrean troops further into Ethiopian territory are not just provocations, but acts of outright aggression," he stated, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The history of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which includes a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000, underlines the present tensions. In light of these historical grievances and recent escalations, Ethiopian officials have suggested that dialogue remains an option if Eritrea adheres to respecting Ethiopian sovereignty and territorial claims, particularly concerning access to the Eritrean port of Assab, which Ethiopia views as critical for its landlocked status. These sentiments were reiterated in Timothewos's letter, emphasizing a willingness to engage in discussions, according to BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.