NYN | News
Regional warnings are mounting over the race for international influence in the Red Sea. In this context, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki delivered sharp criticism of attempts to turn Yemeni islands into foreign military bases, warning of serious repercussions for the security of maritime routes.
Afwerki explained, in an interview broadcast by Eritrean television on Thursday, that there are moves to establish bases on Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean, as well as on the islands of Mayun and Zuqar in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. He described these steps as part of a plan by “external powers seeking to cement their influence in the region.”
The Eritrean president pointed out that the turmoil Yemen is experiencing is not tied to its internal conflict, but rather to the military ambitions of global powers that are using the islands and waterways to expand their presence.
He affirmed that the militarization of the Red Sea and its surrounding areas poses a direct threat to regional security, calling on the countries of the region to build a united position to confront these dangers.
Afwerki’s remarks coincided with international reports and satellite images showing construction and development activities on several Yemeni islands, including Abd al-Kuri in the Socotra archipelago, as well as Mayun and Zuqar—sites considered among the most sensitive and strategic in the region.
