Washington: The United States has expressed concern over rising tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia, warning that any fresh military confrontation could have serious consequences for the wider Horn of Africa.

US State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said the region could not afford another conflict or humanitarian crisis and called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint.

He warned that an outbreak of hostilities would also jeopardise ongoing US cooperation with Eritrea and Ethiopia on areas of shared interest.

Washington urged both countries to respect each other’s sovereignty and return to dialogue and cooperation in line with the 2018 peace agreement that restored diplomatic relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara after a 20-year break.

Piggott stressed that dialogue-based peace remains the only viable path towards security, sustainable growth and economic prosperity.

Tensions between the two countries have sharply intensified in recent days.

Eritrea announced at the beginning of October that it was severing all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

The move followed Ethiopia’s decision to expel 10 Eritrean diplomats from Addis Ababa after declaring them “persona non grata.” Ethiopia accused the diplomats of posing a direct threat to its national security and of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Ethiopian government also decided to close its embassy in the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

In response, Eritrea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, citing retaliation and warning of the negative consequences that could follow.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries had been officially restored in 2018, ending two decades of hostility.