Ethiopian and U.S. Military Officials Discuss Red Sea Access and Regional Security.

Ethiopian and United States military officials held high-level talks this week on Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea and broader peace and security issues in the Horn of Africa.

General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and senior Ethiopian military leaders on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed later confirmed the meeting in a message on his social media account, noting that he had discussed “regional security and opportunities for greater cooperation” with the #AFRICOM commander. However, he did not provide further details about the discussions.

In a statement, the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense said General Anderson first met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and later with Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. Talks focused on peace and stability in the Horn of Africa as well as the future of Ethiopian-U.S. military cooperation.

Field Marshal Berhanu Jula told the U.S. delegation that “Ethiopia’s maritime interests are for peaceful purposes and to build its economy,” stressing that the country seeks to pursue its maritime ambitions “through dialogue and cooperation.”

The Ministry of Defense added that General Anderson expressed support for Ethiopia’s efforts to secure peaceful access to the Red Sea, noting that such access would “make a significant contribution to regional peace.”

The statement noted that General Anderson pledged to continue discussions with officials in Washington, D.C., on Ethiopia’s strategic interests and regional peace initiatives. It also highlighted counter-terrorism cooperation, with both sides reaffirming the importance of joint efforts against terrorist groups active in the region.