Ethiopia’s Quest for Maritime Access Permanent Nat’l Imperative: IFA Executive Director

Addis Ababa, May 22, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s pursuit of a guaranteed maritime access is a permanent national imperative driven by the vision of security, economic viability and regional integration, Executive Director of Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), Jafar Bedru noted.

The third regional consultative forum on 3RedSea and Gulf of Aden, organized by Institute of Foreign Affairs and Ethiopian Defense Force War College is underway in Addis Ababa.

Opening the dialogue, Jafar Bedru Executive Director of IFA said that the convening reflects the collective resolve to foster meaningful engagement, build mutual understanding and advance a shared vision for regional peace, security and prosperity.

For the Director, the IFA is committed to producing actionable research, empowering foreign policy actors and serving as a hub for thought leadership in diplomacy, peace and international cooperation.

The theme of this year’s dialogue called is navigating for economic and security cooperation: opportunities, challenges and future directions encapsulate both the urgency and the opportunity.

Furthermore, he added it captures the growing imperative to develop more coordinated, coherent response to the complex and interrelated dynamics shaping this geostrategic maritime space.

Citing that the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eden corridor is a critical geopolitical interface, he said from Ethiopia’s perspective, the long term stability, governance and accessibility of this corridor are of paramount importance.

Noting that Ethiopia’s pursuit of guaranteed maritime access is not a passing concern, he added it is a permanent national imperative—driven by the vision of security, economic viability, and regional integration, local newswire service reported.