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Following Ethiopia’s strategic decision to develop its navy, the country’s leadership is taking concrete steps to rebuild its navy. The landlocked country is working on regional agreements that will allow it access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Ethiopia’s Navy was originally founded in the 1950s, but was dissolved following Eritrea’s independence in 1993, which left Ethiopia landlocked. However, after taking office in 2018, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced he would revive the country naval forces. At the time, Abiy said that France would assist Ethiopia in rebuilding its maritime capabilities. The following year, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Ethiopia, culminating in the signing of a defense cooperation agreement that provides a framework for France to support the reconstruction of the Ethiopian Navy.
However, amidst increasing diplomatic tensions with Paris, Ethiopia has now turned to Russia for assistance. In mid-March, a Russian Navy delegation led by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vorobyev, visited Ethiopian Navy facilities and training centre in Bishoftu town, around 30 miles south of Addis Ababa.
During the visit, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement on training and capacity building. Russia has pledged to work with Ethiopia in its efforts to modernize its navy, following an initial visit back in 2022. With a cooperation agreement now in place, “both sides will continue to work together to strengthen the naval rebuilding that Ethiopian navy has begun and to further strengthen its readiness to protect Ethiopia’s interests in the international waters,” said Commodore Jamal Tufisa, the Deputy Commander of the Ethiopian Navy.
The cooperation coincides with Russia’s new search for a permanent base in the Indian Ocean. Last month, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) foreign minister Ali Youssef Ahmed said that there were no obstacles for a Russian base in Port Sudan. Ethiopia may lease part of the facilities in Port Sudan and possibly Djibouti to assist with their maritime development strategy and trade security. Ethiopia is a full member of the BRICS group and the largest economy in East Africa.
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