The United States was particularly interested in seeing Eritrea federated with Ethiopia in the early 1950s due to strategic geopolitical reasons, especially during the early years of the Cold War. Here are some key factors:
1. Military and Strategic Interests: The U.S. wanted to secure access to Eritrea’s Asmara base, which was home to Radio Marina, a critical communications and intelligence facility. This base allowed the U.S. to monitor the Red Sea region and Soviet activities across the Middle East and North Africa. Eritrea’s position along the Red Sea was strategically valuable for controlling and surveilling the region, including the Suez Canal, a vital waterway.
2. Alliance with Ethiopia: Ethiopia, under Emperor Haile Selassie, was a strong ally of the United States in a region where colonialism, rising nationalism, and the influence of the Soviet Union were transforming political landscapes. The U.S. valued Ethiopia’s pro-Western stance and sought to bolster this relationship by supporting Ethiopian claims to Eritrea.
3. Containment of Communism: During the Cold War, the U.S. sought to limit Soviet influence and contain communism wherever possible. The U.S. feared that if Eritrea gained full independence, it could either fall into communist influence or create instability that the Soviet Union could exploit. By supporting the federation with Ethiopia, a U.S.-friendly state, America aimed to prevent any possible Soviet foothold in the region.
4. UN Involvement and Influence: The United Nations played a role in the decision to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia, partly because the U.S. and other Western powers had significant influence over UN decisions at the time. The U.S. pushed for a solution that would stabilize the region under Ethiopian control, believing this would serve their interests in the Cold War context.
This move, however, disregarded the desires of many Eritreans, who had aspirations for independence. It ultimately fueled resentment and led to a prolonged conflict, as Eritreans resisted Ethiopian rule until they achieved independence in 1991.z
Comments