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.
While some argue that Amurru was a newly formed kingdom in southern Syria under nominal Egyptian control, recent studies indicate that during Abdi-Ashirta's reign, Amurru was actually a "disunited territory" comprising several autonomous polities. Consequently, although Abdi-Ashirta held influence over these regions, he did not exercise direct authority over them. Rib-Hadda expressed strong discontent to Pharaoh Akhenaten — as recorded in the Amarna letters (EA) — regarding Abdi-Ashirta's efforts to reshape the political landscape at his own expense.