Red Sea Logistics & Ethiopia’s “Sovereign Access” Push: Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Mogadishu is open to Ethiopia using two or three Somali ports for imports and exports, but only under Somali sovereignty and after a formal request—while Ethiopia keeps framing sea access as a sovereignty issue, even as war-risk costs keep rising for ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb. Diplomatic Break in the Horn: Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats within 48 hours after a drone strike in Addis Ababa; Eritrea retaliated by severing ties, raising fears of a wider regional spillover. Djibouti-Relevant Shipping Pressure: EU naval escort capacity for Red Sea merchant traffic remains short, leaving more pressure on the corridor that still routes much of Ethiopia’s cargo and fuel through Djibouti. Maritime Security & Crew Repatriation: After the MT Honour 25 hijacking, Somalia/Puntland operations freed the tanker and captured pirates; three Pakistani sailors died and four injured crew members were repatriated via Ethiopian Airlines to Karachi. Trade & Costs Watch: Ethiopia’s WTO accession push nears a final phase, but the WTO warns high transport, customs and border costs—especially for landlocked exporters—could blunt expected gains. Local Business Angle: The Damerjog–Dewele fuel pipeline linking Djibouti to Ethiopia was launched, aiming to improve fuel security and cut reliance on road transport. Humanitarian & Regional Risk: UN warnings highlight worsening hunger in Yemen as renewed fighting disrupts food access, with spillover risks for the wider Red Sea region.