Addis Ababa, February 17, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday called on Türkiye to support Ethiopia’s efforts to secure peaceful access to the sea during a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the National Palace in Addis Ababa.
Speaking to the media following their bilateral talks, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that sustaining Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth requires addressing structural bottlenecks, particularly in logistics and maritime access.
He pointed out that Ethiopia, with a population exceeding 130 million, has remained landlocked for decades, contrary to global economic trends, describing the situation as historically unjust.
“The sustainability of our growth cannot be ensured if a nation of over 130 million people continues to be denied access to the sea and remains a geographic prisoner,” Prime Minister Abiy said. “Such a reality runs counter to prevailing global practices and contemporary economic trends.”
The Prime Minister added that Ethiopia and Türkiye discussed extensively how friendly nations like Türkiye can play a constructive diplomatic role in supporting Ethiopia’s quest for sea access through peaceful and mutually beneficial means.
He highlighted that logistics remains one of the most significant constraints on Ethiopia’s development, stressing that maritime access is essential to unlocking the country’s full economic potential. In this regard, Prime Minister Abiy expressed appreciation for President Erdoğan’s engagement on the matter.
The two leaders also agreed to boost bilateral trade to at least one billion US dollars and beyond by diversifying business sectors and encouraging more Turkish companies to invest in Ethiopia — both for the domestic market and for exports to Africa.
PM Abiy noted that Ethiopia is among the fastest-growing economies globally, expecting 10.2 percent growth in the current fiscal year.
The leaders further committed to strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism and enhancing collaboration in multilateral platforms, including climate diplomacy, as Türkiye prepares to host COP this year and Ethiopia in 2027.
For his part, President Erdoğan said cooperation in railway and transport infrastructure, factories, tourism facilities, and power transmission lines will continue to expand.
“Inshallah, God willing, this will even increase further,” he added.
Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye places great importance on advancing its longstanding relations with the people of Ethiopia. He congratulated Prime Minister Abiy on the country’s political, social, and economic transformation, highlighting Ethiopia’s growing significance in the Horn of Africa.
The Turkish President expressed confidence that his visit would contribute to regional peace and stability.
The joint press conference marked a significant moment in President Erdoğan’s official visit, reinforcing the expanding strategic partnership between the two nations.