March 6, 2026
Getahun Assefa
In the escalating conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s outspoken condemnation of Iran’s retaliatory strikes stands out as a glaring anomaly within the BRICS bloc. While most BRICS nations have rallied against the initial US-Israeli aggression, Ethiopia’s position aligns it uncomfortably with Western powers, raising questions about Abiy’s grasp of international dynamics and the potential damage to Ethiopia’s strategic interests. In other words, none of the BRICS Members Condemned Iran and Supported US-Israeli Military Operations Except Ethiopia. In fact, the key members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) declared that the ongoing war is illegal, and it is against international law and the charter of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the UN condemned the war and called for diplomacy over firepower. Some developed nations such as Spain and Scandinavian states unequivocally condemned the aggression against Iran- a sovereign state and member of the United Nations. Most developing nations kept quiet simply they are voiceless against superpower- the United States of America.
Ethiopia’s Utter Miscalculation and Overreaction by its Prime Minister
The fact is that the conflict erupted when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, including military and nuclear sites, resulting in significant casualties, including the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks, including on Gulf states like Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, which it accused of aiding the US and Israel. In a phone call with Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Abiy described Iran’s actions as an “atrocious attack” violating sovereignty, airspace, international law, and the UN Charter, while pledging Ethiopia’s solidarity with Kuwait. This visceral attack on Iran—a fellow BRICS member—ignores the context of Iran’s defensive retaliation against what Tehran and many Global South nations view as unprovoked US-Israeli imperialism.
Abiy’s stance is particularly ill-advised given BRICS’ collective response. The BRICS which includes recently joined countries such as Ethiopia, has condemned the US-Israeli strikes as violations of international law. Available records show that at the 2025 Rio summit, BRICS leaders rebuked the bombardments, expressing grave concern over the Middle East’s deteriorating security and supporting Palestinian statehood while criticizing Israel’s actions. With the current crisis, Brazil, for instance, denounced the attacks amid ongoing peace negotiations. Russia and China, key BRICS pillars, have provided diplomatic and material support to Iran, viewing the conflict as an extension of Western hegemony. Even India, with its strategic ties to Israel, has not openly supported the strikes, maintaining a balanced posture as BRICS chair. South Africa, drawing parallels to its anti-apartheid history, has been vocal against Israeli aggression. Ethiopia, however, is the outlier, with Abiy’s condemnation effectively endorsing the US-Israeli narrative which puts Ethiopia at odds with the principle of sovereignty and with the long-standing position of the BRICS.
This arbitrariness exposes Ethiopia’s miscalculations and systemic vulnerabilities in international relations. As a new BRICS entrant, Ethiopia benefits from the bloc’s emphasis on South-South cooperation, including trade, investment, and de-dollarization initiatives. Iran has supplied armed drones to Ethiopia amid its internal conflicts, fostering ties that Abiy’s words now jeopardize. By alienating Iran and, by extension, Brazil, South Africa, Russia and China, Abiy risks isolating Ethiopia from multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects and economic partnerships crucial for a landlocked, developing nation. BRICS represents a counterweight to Western dominance, promoting multipolarity where Global South voices matter. Abiy’s alignment with Gulf states—often seen as US proxies—undermines this, potentially eroding Ethiopia’s credibility in forums like the African Union and weakening its bargaining power in regional disputes, such as the Nile water negotiations.
Moreover, Abiy’s mixed signals—condemning Iran while allowing Ethiopia’s Islamic Affairs Supreme Council president to express solidarity with Tehran at its embassy—reveal not only delusion about international relations and south-south cooperation but also a lack of coherent policy and strategy. This duplicity, perceived as playing both sides, erodes trust and highlights ignorance of BRICS’ geopolitical ethos, where solidarity against external aggression is paramount.
In conclusion, Abiy Ahmed’s clueless rhetoric not only betrays a misunderstanding of Iran’s predicament under “naked aggression” but also endangers Ethiopia’s integration into vital South-South networks. For a nation aspiring to regional leadership, such shortsightedness could prove costly, prioritizing fleeting alliances over long-term strategic gains. Ethiopia must realign with BRICS principles to safeguard its interests in an increasingly multipolar world.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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