Eritrea holds strategic geopolitical significance in the Horn of Africa due to its location along the Red Sea, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. This position gives it influence over key global shipping routes, while its regional relations with neighbouring states, particularly Ethiopia, continue to shape regional security dynamics, particularly around maritime access, and shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa.