March 11, 2026
The talks came days after Israel-Ethiopia meeting in Addis Ababa
Borkena
Toronto – On March 9, Ethiopia and Israel held consultation in Addis Ababa as the war in the gulf region continues for nearly two weeks.
Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Neguise, and Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera discussed ” ways of further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Israel,” as the Ministry put it.
However, there was also an exchange of views on development in the region and issues of “mutual concern.” The ministry did not announce to the public as to what the views of the two sides are on those issues.
The two countries enhanced diplomatic engagement over the past few years. Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos visited Israel and met with his Israeli counterpart,Gideon Sa’ar , in March 2025. Gideon Sa’ar visited Ethiopia in the same month.
In January 2026 the two counties held their 4th political consolations. And last month, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, visited Ethiopia where he met Ethiopian officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Abiy Ahmed’s administration does seem to have a policy alignment with Israel. In December 2025, Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent state – a development that triggered condemnation from many countries including Türkiye whose president described the recognition as “useless for the region and Somaliland.”
Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland on January 1, 2024 with the aim to secure about 20 kilometers of coastal land for maritime purposes in exchange for, it was said, recognition for Somaliland as an independent state. However, the agreement vanished without trace as resistance mounted in the region and beyond. Turkish mediation restored normalcy between Ethiopia and Somalia who had been accusing the former of “violation of its sovereignty.” There is still a rumor that Abiy Ahmed’s administration is holding talks with Somaliland the details of which are unknown. The speculation is that the talk is about recognizing Somaliland and arrangements for it.
Notably, Abiy Ahmed condemned the Iranian attack on U.S. military bases in Kuwait, which he described as a “violation of the country’s sovereignty.”
Gulf States Diplomatic Engagement with Ethiopia Amid Iran War
As the Ethiopia-Israel relation is strengthening even amid the Israel-US bombardment of Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia on Wednesday announced that it held diplomatic talks with several countries from the gulf region.
On Tuesday, Ambassadors of Qatar, Jordan, Oman, and Chargé d’Affaires of the United Arab Emirates, and Chargé d’Affaires of Kuwait met with Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Hadera.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has not been specific about the agenda items, as has been the case often times than not, of the meeting with the diplomats from those countries.
The Ministry is using a generic expression of “strengthening relations,” and discussion of “regional developments and other matters of mutual interest.”
However, it appears that the conflict in the gulf region was part of the discussion in some form. Ethiopia is on the brink of war with Eritrea. If that happens, it is feared that it could engulf the entire Horn of Africa region. The Ethiopian government has also been accusing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) leaders of preparing for war.
The developments in the region coupled with the war in Iran, which some analysts see as its likely expansion to other parts of the gulf and possibly beyond, are adding imputes to the tension in the region. Somalia, on its part, has been acquiring arms including fighter jets.
The economic impact of the war is already felt in Ethiopia as the prices of oil are spiking.
__
Support Borkena : https://borkena.com/subscribe-borkena/
Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
Borkena Ethiopian News Youtube Channel
To submit Press Release, send submission to info@borkena.com