23/06/2026
In a speech delivered in London at Chatham House on 17 June 2026, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos outlined Ethiopia’s Foreign policy priorities on regional security, Red Sea access, the Nile, economic diplomacy, climate action, and the future of the Horn of Africa. Key Takeaways:
🔴 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
▪️ Ethiopia views regional stability as a shared necessity, arguing that no country in the Horn of Africa can achieve lasting stability in isolation.
▪️ The Minister highlighted Ethiopia’s engagement in Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, emphasizing dialogue, peacebuilding, humanitarian coordination, and security cooperation.
▪️ He stressed that regional problems require regional solutions.
🔵 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀
▪️ Access to the sea was presented as a structural issue affecting trade, logistics, energy security, and long-term economic planning.
▪️ The Minister said Ethiopia’s pursuit of maritime access is rooted in development, connectivity, and economic efficiency.
▪️ He emphasized dialogue, mutual benefit, and regional stability as the basis for addressing the issue.
🟢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗲 & 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆
▪️ Ethiopia reaffirmed that shared natural resources should be governed by equity, cooperation, and mutual benefit.
▪️ The Minister rejected approaches that frame development as a threat and called for moving beyond what he described as “anachronistic and monopolistic claims.”
▪️ He presented the GERD as an expression of Ethiopia’s right to development and self-reliance.
🟠 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
▪️ National Dialogue was described as a foundational effort to address historical grievances, structural challenges, and build consensus on the future of the state.
▪️ Transitional justice, institutional reforms, and post-conflict recovery were highlighted as key components of reconciliation.
▪️ The Minister said the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement remains a critical component of Ethiopia’s post-conflict recovery, reconstruction, and reintegration efforts.
▪️ He expressed concerns regarding hardliner elements within the TPLF that have not fully embraced the spirit of the agreement, particularly regarding disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration.
🔵 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆
▪️ The Green Legacy Initiative was presented as a long-term investment in ecological restoration, food security, and climate resilience.
▪️ Reforestation, renewable energy expansion, and cleaner mobility were highlighted as pillars of Ethiopia’s sustainable development pathway.
▪️ The Minister described climate cooperation as central to future global governance and development.
🔴 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆
▪️ The Minister said diplomacy must support economic transformation through trade, investment, technology transfer, and integration into global markets.
▪️ Ethiopia’s diplomatic engagement is increasingly focused on fostering economic partnerships and attracting investment.
▪️ WTO accession and participation in AfCFTA were highlighted as key priorities.
🔵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆
▪️ The Minister argued that growing geopolitical competition creates both challenges and opportunities for African states.
▪️ He emphasized the importance of African countries defining their own priorities and exercising greater strategic agency.
▪️ Ethiopia’s approach, he said, is to engage broadly, maintain strategic balance, and avoid rigid alignment.
🔴 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
▪️ The Minister said the future of the Horn of Africa should be built on cooperation, economic integration, and respect for sovereignty.
▪️ He reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and constructive engagement with its neighbours, including Eritrea.
▪️ He concluded that dialogue, integration, and solidarity offer a more sustainable path than confrontation, isolation, and fragmentation.
Click here to read his full remarks: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chatham-house-africa-programme_ethiopia-chafrica-activity-7473385667939467264-bHgz?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAD1yzkoBJBXXu-UtbStnmE8VTPJOrkux3jw&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=share_via
