Acess to the Red Sea?
Yohanis defeated Egyptians twice but shied away from marching on Massawa. Could have captured it with more preparations than the previous wars. But did not.
Menelick did not object to Italians taking Asseb in consideration of their weapons supply to conquer Gurage, Oromo, Sidama, Welaita and the Omo Valley tribes. Access to Red Sea was not as important as shedding bloods of inmocent millions to take their lands, their independence and enslave them.
Mengistu could have defeat Shabia if listened to Ethiopian generals rather than Russians. He deliberately holted army's advance to crush Shabia, failed to send in more re-inforcements at crucial times and locations to defeat Shabia, according published memories of the general who led the war under Mengistu.
Meles should not have signed away Eritrea to its independence in 1993 without consulting parliament. But, he did.
Meles should not have stopped the advance of the Ethiopian army on Asmara and occupy Eritrea to get Asab back in exchange to leave Eritrea and end the war. But, he did stop the army march on Asmara in the 1998-2000 war.
Meles should not have entered into a losing binding agreement at the Hague. First of, there is a suspicion that says he instructed the Nigerian lawyers he hired to represent Ethiopia to not argue hard in favor of Ethiopia so that Eritrea wins more border lands.
Question:
Has Ethiopia ever wanted access to the Red Sea seriously enough? The historical evidence available doesn't support it. Play Boy Abiy Ahmed's noise is just noise.