NEW DELHI — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is the only leader from the Horn of Africa attending the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where he is using the gathering to strengthen Ethiopia’s economic, security and diplomatic ties with major emerging powers.
During the summit, Abiy has held a series of bilateral meetings with participating leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.
According to Ethiopian government statements, the discussions have focused on expanding economic cooperation, investment, energy, technology and security partnerships.
A growing priority for Addis Ababa is the modernization of Ethiopia’s military capabilities, including access to advanced defense technology, unmanned aerial vehicles and other military equipment. Ethiopia has also been seeking to strengthen its domestic defense-production capacity.
Recent reporting by Agence France-Presse (AFP) highlighted Ethiopia’s growing efforts to develop and produce drones domestically, reflecting Addis Ababa’s broader ambition to reduce its reliance on foreign military suppliers and expand its technological capabilities.
Despite facing political and security challenges at home, Abiy has presented Ethiopia to international leaders as a country with significant investment opportunities, including abundant land, relatively low-cost energy, a large consumer market and strategic access to regional economic and security partnerships.
The Ethiopian prime minister has also sought to raise issues linked to the Red Sea and regional maritime security during his diplomatic engagements. Discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly included issues connected to the Red Sea, an increasingly important arena for regional competition and international security.
Ethiopia’s interest in the Red Sea remains closely linked to its strategic objective of securing reliable access to international maritime trade routes. As a landlocked country, Addis Ababa considers access to ports and the wider Red Sea region an important component of its long-term economic and geopolitical strategy.
Abiy’s participation in the BRICS summit therefore represents more than a diplomatic appearance. It provides Ethiopia with an opportunity to deepen relations with major global powers while promoting its investment potential, expanding defense cooperation and advancing its interests in the wider Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.
The meetings in New Delhi are being closely watched across the region as Ethiopia seeks to strengthen its position at a time of growing geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
