Addis Ababa, October 25, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula has declared that Ethiopia has no alternative but to defend its interests in the Abay River and the Red Sea, stressing that the country cannot abandon its natural resources and strategic interests while other actors seek to advance their own ambitions.
Addressing the commemoration of the 119th Defense Forces Day at the Armed Forces General Headquarters under the theme “Army of Victory,” Field Marshal Berhanu placed Ethiopia’s interests in the two waterways within the country’s wider struggle to safeguard its sovereignty, defend its national resources and secure its future. He made clear that Ethiopia’s pursuit of peace and good-neighborly relations would not mean surrendering its interests.
Ethiopia is marking the 119th anniversary of the establishment of its modern defense forces, honoring generations of military personnel who have sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The annual occasion also celebrates the history, traditions and service of the Ethiopian military, reaffirming the role of the ENDF in defending the nation.
On the occasion, Field Marshal Berhanu underscored the strategic importance of the Abay River, describing it as a natural resource belonging to Ethiopia. He stressed that the country must protect its interests in the river, which holds fundamental importance for Ethiopia’s development and future.
His message was that Ethiopia cannot be expected to disregard its own interests in a resource that originates in its territory and forms part of its national wealth.
Turning to the Red Sea, the Chief of Staff delivered an equally forceful message, saying it was a sea that God had made for Ethiopians to use.
His remarks placed the waterway among Ethiopia’s strategic national concerns and made clear that the country cannot simply set aside its interests in a region of such importance to its future.
Field Marshal Berhanu’s position was not that Ethiopia should turn away from its neighbors, but that relations with them must not be built on the surrender of Ethiopia’s national interests. He said Ethiopia sought brotherhood and good-neighborly relations, while making clear that these principles could not require the country to relinquish interests it regards as essential.
He also challenged efforts by other actors to monopolize the benefits of strategic resources and waterways, arguing that Ethiopia must stand firm in protecting its interests.
The defense of the Abay River and the Red Sea, in his framing, is inseparable from the country’s responsibility to protect its sovereignty and prevent others from determining its future at Ethiopia’s expense.
The Chief of Staff’s remarks placed these strategic concerns alongside the wider security challenges facing the country. He maintained that Ethiopia must remain resolute in defending its national interests, while refusing to equate peaceful coexistence with weakness or surrender.
As Ethiopia honors the soldiers who have given their lives in defense of the country, Field Marshal Berhanu’s message underscored that the duty of national defense extends beyond protecting territorial integrity: it also means standing firm on the resources and strategic interests central to the country’s future.
Ethiopia, he made clear, has no alternative but to defend its interests in the Abay River and the Red Sea.