AMN Plus-May 21, 2026
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew, briefed the media on Ethiopia’s diplomatic engagements, highlighting key areas including recent Ethiopia–U.S. engagements, the Ethiopia–UN 80-year partnership, and Ethiopia’s engagement with BRICS, President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, and citizen-centered diplomacy.
On Ethiopia–U.S. engagement, Ambassador Nebiat stated that a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos(PhD) held various engagements in Washington, D.C., including the signing of the Bilateral Structured Dialogue (BSD) Framework Agreement between Ethiopia and the United States, signed by Minister Gedion Timothewos and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs T.H. Alison Hooker, establishing three cooperation pillars covering economic prosperity, trade and investment; defense and security; and regional peace and stability. He further noted that Minister Gedion held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on strengthening bilateral relations and regional cooperation, and also engaged with experts at the Hudson Institute.
On Ethiopia and the United Nations’ 80-year journey and related diplomatic activities, the Spokesperson indicated that Ethiopia marked the occasion by issuing a special commemorative stamp set under the theme “Living Together in Peace,” jointly unveiled by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed(PhD) and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He added that the stamps highlight key milestones in Ethiopia–UN relations, including the signing of the UN Charter in 1945, peacekeeping operations in the Congo, and the first UN Security Council meeting held on African soil. He also referenced President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Ethiopia, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations and included the signing of agreements on renewable, sustainable, and integrated energy cooperation, including geothermal energy.
On Ethiopia and BRICS, Ambassador Nebiat said that Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India held under the theme “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” where he underscored the importance of coordinated multilateral diplomacy in building a fair international system. He added that, on the sidelines, the Minister held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, with both sides reaffirming long-standing Ethiopia–India relations and expressing commitment to further strengthen cooperation across various fields.
On citizen-centered diplomacy, the Spokesperson further noted that Minister Gedion Timothewos held discussions with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, focusing on bilateral relations and agreeing to jointly address challenges faced by Ethiopians living in South Africa. He added that State Minister Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye also held discussions with South Africa’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nonceba Losi, where both sides emphasized the need to ensure the safety and protection of Ethiopian citizens; the South African side condemned the attacks, confirmed ongoing investigations, and both countries agreed to strengthen institutional cooperation, including the deployment of a joint follow-up team. In addition, he said Minister Gedion held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed Elkhereiji, where both sides underscored their long-standing relations and the need to enhance legal employment opportunities and ensure the safety and welfare of Ethiopian nationals in Saudi Arabia, According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
