The United States has lifted sanctions on the Eritrean Defense Forces and several other Eritrean entities, according to a notice published by the US Treasury Department on Friday.
The decision by President Donald Trump’s administration could pave the way for closer ties between Washington and Eritrea, whose strategic location on the Red Sea has gained greater significance amid escalating conflict across the Middle East and renewed international focus on maritime security.
Eritrea has a long coastline along the Red Sea, facing Saudi Arabia across one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.
Reuters previously reported that the Trump administration was preparing to remove the sanctions, citing an internal US government document.
The restrictions were imposed in 2021 under former President Joe Biden’s administration against Eritrea’s ruling party, military and senior officials over their involvement in the conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia.
Eritrean troops entered Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in support of federal forces during the war against Tigrayan regional authorities.
Eritrea’s information and defence ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the US decision.
