Relationship dossier
Eritrea
United States
Relationship assessment
A strained relationship shaped by Eritrean restrictions on US aid operations and US sanctions.
Eritrea toward United States
-40Eritrea restricted US aid operations, including expelling USAID from the country in 2005. Eritrean authorities have also sharply criticized US policy toward Eritrea, contributing to persistent bilateral friction.
United States toward Eritrea
-40The United States supported UN sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 amid allegations of Eritrean support for armed groups in Somalia. In 2021, it imposed sanctions on Eritrean entities over their role in the Tigray conflict.
Overall relationship
-35The relationship has faced recurring political confrontation, including Eritrean restrictions on US aid operations and US support for sanctions. Later US sanctions linked to Eritrean involvement in the Tigray conflict show that significant disagreements persisted. The relationship is adverse, though the cited conduct does not amount to sustained military confrontation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations have been marked by serious political friction and US sanctions, including measures targeting Eritrean entities over their role in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Eritrean restrictions on US aid operations have also strained bilateral engagement. The relationship has not involved sustained military confrontation, but the available bilateral conduct supports a substantially adverse assessment.
Areas of tension
- US sanctions and Eritrea’s alleged support for armed groups in Somalia
- Eritrean restrictions on US aid operations
- Eritrean involvement in the Tigray conflict and subsequent US sanctions
Key developments
Eritrea expelled USAID from the country.
The United States supported UN sanctions on Eritrea over allegations of support for armed groups in Somalia.
The United States imposed sanctions on Eritrean entities over their role in the Tigray conflict.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of direct Eritrean-US diplomatic engagement and any practical cooperation is unclear.
- The implementation and effects of US sanctions on Eritrean entities are uncertain.