HORN OF AFRICA TENSIONS

External powers are intensifying their involvement in the Horn of Africa, especially around the Red Sea and the Ethiopia-Somalia dispute. Ethiopia's deal with Somaliland has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt and Turkey, raising the risk of a wider regional confrontation. Russia and Iran are also seeking greater military and political influence in the region, taking advantage of instability in Sudan and Somalia. The result is deeper conflict, more fragmented alliances, and greater pressure on local populations and US counterterrorism interests.