06/23/2026
"Ethiopia views regional stability as a shared necessity, arguing that no country in the Horn of Africa can achieve lasting stability in isolation."
H.E Gedion Timothewos.
In a speech delivered in London at Chatham House on 17 June 2026, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos outlined Ethiopiaโs 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:
๐ด ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
โช๏ธ Ethiopia views regional stability as a shared necessity, arguing that no country in the Horn of Africa can achieve lasting stability in isolation.
โช๏ธ The Minister highlighted Ethiopiaโs engagement in Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, emphasizing dialogue, peacebuilding, humanitarian coordination, and security cooperation.
โช๏ธ He stressed that regional problems require regional solutions.
๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐
โช๏ธ Access to the sea was presented as a structural issue affecting trade, logistics, energy security, and long-term economic planning.
โช๏ธ The Minister said Ethiopiaโs pursuit of maritime access is rooted in development, connectivity, and economic efficiency.
โช๏ธ He emphasized dialogue, mutual benefit, and regional stability as the basis for addressing the issue.
๐ข ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ถ๐น๐ฒ & ๐๐พ๐๐ถ๐๐
โช๏ธ Ethiopia reaffirmed that shared natural resources should be governed by equity, cooperation, and mutual benefit.
โช๏ธ The Minister rejected approaches that frame development as a threat and called for moving beyond what he described as โanachronistic and monopolistic claims.โ
โช๏ธ He presented the GERD as an expression of Ethiopiaโs right to development and self-reliance.
๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
โช๏ธ National Dialogue was described as a foundational effort to address historical grievances, structural challenges, and build consensus on the future of the state.
โช๏ธ Transitional justice, institutional reforms, and post-conflict recovery were highlighted as key components of reconciliation.
โช๏ธ The Minister said the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement remains a critical component of Ethiopiaโs post-conflict recovery, reconstruction, and reintegration efforts.
โช๏ธ 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.
๐ต ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
โช๏ธ The Green Legacy Initiative was presented as a long-term investment in ecological restoration, food security, and climate resilience.
โช๏ธ Reforestation, renewable energy expansion, and cleaner mobility were highlighted as pillars of Ethiopiaโs sustainable development pathway.
โช๏ธ The Minister described climate cooperation as central to future global governance and development.
๐ด ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
โช๏ธ The Minister said diplomacy must support economic transformation through trade, investment, technology transfer, and integration into global markets.
โช๏ธ Ethiopiaโs diplomatic engagement is increasingly focused on fostering economic partnerships and attracting investment.
โช๏ธ WTO accession and participation in AfCFTA were highlighted as key priorities.
๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐
โช๏ธ The Minister argued that growing geopolitical competition creates both challenges and opportunities for African states.
โช๏ธ He emphasized the importance of African countries defining their own priorities and exercising greater strategic agency.
โช๏ธ Ethiopiaโs approach, he said, is to engage broadly, maintain strategic balance, and avoid rigid alignment.
๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
โช๏ธ The Minister said the future of the Horn of Africa should be built on cooperation, economic integration, and respect for sovereignty.
โช๏ธ He reaffirmed Ethiopiaโs commitment to peaceful coexistence and constructive engagement with its neighbours, including Eritrea.
โช๏ธ 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
