Ethiopia has called on Eritrea to immediately withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory. The demand came in a letter from Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh Mohammed on February 7. Ethiopia says Eritrean forces have occupied parts of its border and supported armed groups inside the country. "The incursion[s] of Eritrean troops further into Ethiopian territory … are not just provocations but acts of outright aggression," the letter said. Timothewos demanded that Eritrea "withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory and cease all forms of collaboration with rebel groups." Despite past conflicts between the neighbours, including a war from 1998 to 2000, they signed a peace deal in 2018. Eritrea backed Ethiopia in its two-year war against the northern Tigray region. However, Eritrea was not part of the 2022 agreement that ended that conflict. Relations have worsened since then. Ethiopia said it remains open to dialogue if Eritrea respects its territorial integrity. It expressed willingness to discuss issues like maritime access to the Red Sea through Eritrea's port of Assab. Eritrea has not commented on the letter. Eritrea, independent since 1993 after long conflict with Ethiopia, opposes Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's statements claiming a right to sea access. Many in Eritrea see this as a threat of military action because Eritrea controls Red Sea coastline.