In an exclusive interview with Middle East Eye, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh asserted that there is no viable military solution to the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Saleh argued that foreign powers will ultimately fail to subdue the Yemeni population and that the country must be allowed to pursue a peaceful path.

Beyond the immediate conflict, the discussion addressed the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint bordering both Yemen and Eritrea. Saleh indicated that the nations bordering this strait—the littoral states—bear the responsibility for ensuring safe passage for international shipping. However, he acknowledged that internal divisions within Yemen continue to complicate these regional security discussions.

While the Eritrean government maintains that diplomacy is the only path forward, the report highlights the difficulty of achieving regional consensus. The geopolitical landscape remains strained by the competing interests of various regional actors, and the minister’s comments reflect a push for local, rather than foreign-led, solutions to maritime security and domestic stability.