As Iran war smolders, shunned Eritrea looks to come in from the cold

Eritrea, a small, secluded nation on the Red Sea, finds itself in an unusual position amid the ongoing Iran conflict. Despite long-standing isolation due to its repressive regime, the country is now being courted by global powers for its strategic location and vast mineral resources. Education Minister Halima Mohammed explains that Eritrean youth are bound to military service after high school, a policy that has shaped the nation's culture and economy.

However, recent tensions with Ethiopia over control of the Red Sea port of Assab threaten to strain Eritrea's newfound international partnerships. Asmara remains a city frozen in time, with limited internet access and a population largely disconnected from the rest of the world.