The State Department issued on 23 May 2021 a statement titled "United States' Actions to Press for the Resolution of the Crisis in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia" in the name of Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The statement said parties to the conflict in Tigray have taken no meaningful steps to end hostilities or pursue a peaceful resolution of the political crisis. It reiterated the request that Eritrea immediately return its troops to internationally recognized Eritrean territory.
Until these steps are taken, the United States is announcing a visa restriction policy for any current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean government officials, members of the security forces, or other individuals--to include Amhara regional and irregular forces and members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)--responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution of the crisis in Tigray.
The US has also imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia and will bring its defense trade control policy in line with them. The US will continue humanitarian assistance but parties that continue to be responsible for undermining a solution to the crisis in Tigray should anticipate further actions from the United States and the international community.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry responded by accusing the United States of exerting undue pressure on Ethiopia by imposing visa restrictions on Ethiopian officials. It added that Ethiopia "finds it extremely regrettable that the implications of the visa restrictions and other measures taken earlier will seriously undermine this longstanding and important bilateral relationship." It added that it "is not only inappropriate but also completely unacceptable. Ethiopia should not be told how to run and manage its internal affairs." The statement concluded that Ethiopia will be forced to "reassess its relations with the United States, which might have implications beyond our bilateral relationship."
Reuters published on 24 May 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Accuses United States of Meddling over Tigray" by Giulia Paravicini that also discusses Ethiopia's reaction.
