Foreign Relations of Eritrea

Foreign Relations Of Eritrea

Eritrea is a member of the African Union (AU), the successor of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and is an observing member of the Arab League. But it has withdrawn its representative to the AU in protest of what they claim is the AU's lack of leadership in the implementation of the demarcation the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Eritrea's relationship with the United States is complicated. Although the two nations have a close working relationship regarding the on-going war on terror, there has been a growing tension in other areas. Eritrea's relationship with Italy and the EU has become equally strained in many areas in the last three years. Eritrea also has very tense relations with all of its neighbors: Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia and Djibouti. In 2007 Ethiopia expelled seven Norwegian diplomats. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten: "The soldiers in Eritrea are financed in full by Norway. By supporting those who destroy peace processes in our neighbouring countries, Norway undermines the Ethiopian government’s peace work."