While some contend that Amurru was a new kingdom in southern Syria subject to nominal Egyptian control, new research suggests that during Abdi-Ashirta's lifetime, Amurru was a "decentralized land" that consisted of several independent polities. Consequently, though Abdi-Ashirta had influence among these polities, he did not directly rule them. Rib-Hadda complained bitterly to Pharaoh Akhenaten — in the Amarna letters (EA) — of Abdi-Ashirta's attempts to alter the political landscape at the former's expense.
Some claim that Amurru was a newly established kingdom in southern Syria under indirect Egyptian control, but new research suggests that during Abdi-Ashirta's time, Amurru was actually a loose collection of independent city-states. As a result, although Abdi-Ashirta had some influence over these regions, he did not have direct control over them. Rib-Hadda vehemently complained to Pharaoh Akhenaten — as documented in the Amarna letters (EA) — about Abdi-Ashirta's attempts to alter the political balance at his own disadvantage.