Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy addressed the tense regional standoff over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), urging Egypt to abandon its reliance on "outdated colonial-era agreements." Nagy stressed that the massive project, which is set to be Africa's largest hydroelectric plant, should be viewed as a "point of pride for Africa" and a beneficial step toward regional cooperation and development, rather than a threat.

In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), Nagy also highlighted another critical, "existential" challenge facing the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia's access to the sea.

Nagy emphasized that securing diversified sea access is "absolutely essential" for Ethiopia's future. The former diplomat pointed to Ethiopia's huge population and its ambitious push for industrialization, arguing that the nation's near-total reliance on Djibouti for port access is "not healthy." He suggested that Ethiopia, the world’s largest landlocked country, must secure alternative avenues, potentially through new regional partnerships, to safeguard its economic development and stability.