In April 1977, Mengistu abrogated the 1953 mutual defense treaty and ordered a reduction of U.S. personnel in Ethiopia, including the closure of Kagnew Communications Center and the consulate in Asmara.

Full diplomatic relations between the United States and Eritrea were established on June 11, 1993, when Asmara was elevated to embassy status, with Joseph P. O'Neill acting as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.

Credible accounts implicate Eritrean forces in serious human rights abuses, and the United States remains gravely concerned about the conduct of all parties to the conflict".

However, he also indicated a willingness to overlook issues of corruption and human rights violations in certain contexts, although Eritrea was specifically mentioned as an exception due to its particularly troubling record.

Eritrea's trajectory under President Isaias Afwerki's leadership has been marked by authoritarianism, severe restrictions on civil liberties, and involvement in regional conflicts, notably in Ethiopia and Tigray.

[6] U.S. interests in Eritrea include consolidating the peace with Ethiopia, encouraging progress toward establishing a democratic political culture, supporting Eritrean efforts to become constructively involved in solving regional problems, and promoting economic reform.