PM Abiy and President Putin Reaffirm Strategic Ethiopia-Russia Partnership, Expand Focus on Trade, Education and Technology
Addis Ababa, September 12, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Ethiopia and Russia, with their discussions covering defence and security, trade and investment, education, technology, climate and development.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Abiy is participating as Ethiopia continues its engagement within the expanded BRICS grouping.
Prime Minister Abiy described the meeting as a constructive discussion on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“Our discussions reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing cooperation across key areas, including defence and security, trade and investment, education, and technology,” Prime Minister Abiy said.
The two leaders also explored opportunities to expand educational exchanges and deepen cooperation in cultural and people-to-people ties, adding a broader humanitarian dimension to the bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Abiy said they further discussed strengthening cooperation on climate and development priorities, including collaboration toward COP32, while working to expand mutually beneficial trade and economic exchanges.
The discussions therefore covered both established areas of Ethiopia-Russia engagement and areas with potential for further cooperation, including education, technology, climate and economic exchanges.
For his part, President Putin described Ethiopia as a long-standing and reliable partner for Russia in Africa and said bilateral relations continue to develop on the principles of equality and mutual benefit.
“I note with satisfaction that Russian-Ethiopian ties continue to develop based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit,” President Putin said, while thanking Prime Minister Abiy for his personal contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries.
President Putin highlighted the pace of growth in bilateral trade, saying trade turnover had more than tripled by the end of 2025 and continued to grow.
“We have achieved a solid pace in mutual trade. By the end of 2025, trade turnover had more than tripled, and it continues to grow,” he said.
He also pointed to education as an important foundation for the future of Ethiopia-Russia relations, noting that more than 20,000 Ethiopian citizens have received their education in Russia.
“More than 20,000 of your citizens have received their education in Russia, and this represents a very valuable foundation for our future humanitarian ties,” President Putin said.
President Putin also underscored Russia’s broader interest in developing relations with African countries and recalled Ethiopia’s active participation in Russia-Africa summits.
He said Russia looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Abiy to the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow, where the two leaders are expected to hold another bilateral meeting.
The meeting in New Delhi thus brought together a broad range of Ethiopia-Russia priorities, from strategic and security cooperation to trade, education, technology, cultural exchanges and climate and development issues.
It also took place within the wider BRICS framework, which President Putin described as a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the positions of the Global Majority and contributing to the development of a multipolar world order.
President Putin welcomed Ethiopia’s role in BRICS, noting that the country has been a full member since January 1, 2024, and saying Ethiopia has made a constructive contribution to the grouping’s activities.
The latest engagement underscores the continuing high-level political dialogue between Ethiopia and Russia while highlighting the growing breadth of their bilateral cooperation, including economic and humanitarian ties alongside strategic partnership.