United States removes sanctions on Eritrean Defense Forces

• The ​move, announced in a notice posted on the Department ​of Treasury's website and welcomed by the ⁠Eritrean government, comes as the war in the Middle ​East has expanded, with additional attention on the Red Sea, where ​Eritrea's coastline is opposite Saudi Arabia.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he hosts a dinner in the Rose Garden at the White House on September 02, 2026 in Washington, DC.

The Trump administration lifted sanctions on Eritrean Defense Forces and other entities in Eritrea ​on Friday in a move analysts have said ‌could boost US ties to the African nation given its strategic location along the Red Sea shipping route.

The ​move, announced in a notice posted on the Department ​of Treasury's website and welcomed by the ⁠Eritrean government, comes as the war in the Middle ​East has expanded, with additional attention on the Red Sea, where ​Eritrea's coastline is opposite Saudi Arabia.

Reuters previously reported that Republican US President Donald Trump's administration was planning to remove the sanctions, ​citing an internal government document.

Trump's Democratic predecessor ​Joe Biden had imposed sanctions in 2021 against Eritrea's ruling party ‌and ⁠military as well as senior Eritrean officials for their role in a war in neighboring Ethiopia, where Eritrean forces backed Ethiopian troops fighting regional authorities ​in the northern ​Tigray region.

Yemane ⁠Gebremeskel, Eritrea's information minister, told Reuters that the sanctions had caused incalculable damage ​to the country.

"The unilateral sanctions imposed by ​the ⁠Biden Administration five years ago were not warranted by any metrics... In this respect, we welcome the ⁠gesture and ​remedial measures by the Trump ​Administration," he said.