Azerbaijan has lodged a formal protest with Eritrea over the detention of three Azerbaijani-flagged vessels and their 18-member crews since November 2024.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ayxan Hajizada confirmed that the vessels, CMS Pahlian, CMS İgid, and CMS-3, were detained by Eritrean authorities on November 7th after seeking refuge in Eritrean waters due to severe weather conditions while en route to Abu Dhabi via the Suez Canal.
Hajizada explained that while the vessels contacted Eritrean authorities, they may not have provided all the necessary information. Azerbaijan swiftly responded by sending a diplomatic note to Eritrea through its embassies in Ethiopia and Russia.
“Work is ongoing to resolve the issue, release the vessels and crews, and provide the necessary consular legal assistance,” Hajizada stated.