Increasingly isolated, Ethiopia has reacted to the deepening of ties between Somalia and Egypt with what critics say is nationalist sabre-rattling. The deal sent shockwaves through the Horn of Africa and accelerated a diplomatic realignment that could impact the region’s geopolitics for decades. Referring to Ethiopian troops, Ali added: “Their presence is negative. Somalia may up its support for proxies in Somaliland, while Ethiopia might ramp up its backing of militias in Somalia. But Abiy has succeeded in inserting the idea of Ethiopia gaining sea access into regional policy discussions, points out the researcher.