Ethiopia, India edge closer to defense pact

India and Ethiopia are in the final stages of finalizing a defense cooperation pact, Ethiopia’s ambassador to New Delhi said.

Under the agreement, to be likely signed after India’s general elections, India will offer equipment and training to Ethiopia’s army, ambassador Demeke Atnafu told Indian news outlet The Print.

The deal was evoked by Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Ethiopian peer Abiy Ahmed, at a meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August 2023.

Analysts believe that Ethiopia had the full backing of India to join the group of states with fast growing economies last year.

The defense cooperation agreement is part of a larger push by India to strengthen its foothold on the African continent, where it is already selling air defense systems, small arms, missiles, and anti-drone weapons.

India has also extended a credit line of nearly 14 billion dollars to 42 African nations.