Ethiopia, Israel hold talks on bilateral ties

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affair, Hadera Abera Admassu, has met with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, as both countries signaled their intention to further strengthen bilateral relations.

In a statement posted on X, Sa’ar said Israel “views Ethiopia as a long-term strategic partner” and emphasized that the two sides “will further strengthen ties.” He added that the meeting included discussions on “mutual challenges in our regions.”

Admassu, for his part, described the talks as “productive,” saying they focused on “further strengthening the long-standing relations between Ethiopia and Israel.” He added that the two sides “exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of shared interest” and stressed “the importance of further deepening economic cooperation between our two countries.”

The Ethiopian foreign minister’s visit comes at a time of significant geopolitical shifts across the Horn of Africa. Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland has introduced a new layer of complexity to regional politics. Many analysts view the move as part of Israel’s broader strategic interests in the Horn, particularly its focus on the Red Sea and key maritime trade routes.

This development has coincided with Ethiopia’s intensifying push for sea access, an issue Addis Ababa has actively pursued over the past two years as it seeks to overcome its landlocked status and secure alternative trade corridors.

Ethiopia has engaged in sustained diplomatic efforts to gain regional and international backing for its maritime ambitions. However, neighboring countries — Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti — have largely resisted the push, viewing it as a “threat to their sovereignty.” These tensions placed Ethiopia and Somalia in a year-long diplomatic standoff, which was eventually eased through a Turkey-mediated agreement.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, under which Ethiopia would gain sea access in exchange for recognition, has remained in limbo, with no concrete progress or implementation.

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have also remained deadlocked. Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of pursuing an “expansionist agenda” that threatens its territorial sovereignty, while Addis Ababa has accused the Eritrean government of “destabilizing the country” by supporting the Fano militia and collaborating with TPLF elements. This exchange of accusations has reignited fears of a potential interstate conflict between the two countries.

Against this backdrop, Ethiopia’s stance on Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has remained ambiguous. Despite this ambiguity, Ethiopia clarified its position during discussions at the African Union Peace and Security Council, which convened to address the issue. The Council — mandated to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity, and conflict prevention — issued a statement “rejecting Israel’s recognition of Somaliland’ and “reaffirming Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.”

The Ethiopian foreign minister’s visit to Israel therefore takes place at a critical moment, marked by diplomatic tensions, and competing geopolitical interests that continue to shape the future of the Horn of Africa.