Ethiopia’s evolving international relation has made its foundation on principles of ensuring mutual benefit that lifts up protecting national interest. With its ancient history, trade and strategic location, Ethiopia has played a pivotal role in Africa and the world political and diplomatic affairs. Benchmarking on its diplomatic legacy, the country has gone long distance being the voice of Africa in general and the East Africa in particular.
Ethiopia’s diplomatic journey has paid off the nation and it could sustain the age long relations like that is with the Russian federation. Ethiopia and Russia relation is one of the oldest diplomatic relations. President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, On July 26, 2023 said, “For Russia, Ethiopia was the first country on the African continent with which Russia established diplomatic relations. This happened 125 years ago. We marked this anniversary recently.”
True, Ethiopia also values the long lasted relation with Russia as the two countries are close each other in many ways such as culture, religion and diplomacy among others. During their long diplomatic relations, they have passed through lots of ups and downs together.
The two countries had worked hand in glove during the battle against the shackle of colonialism. At the mountains of Adwa, for instance, where Ethiopia became victorious in the fight against colonial aggression, the support it gained from Russia was remarkable that takes place in the heart of all Ethiopians. Since then, Russia has become a friend in need for Ethiopia. To mention a few, during the sovereignty wars in the east in 1970s, Russia stretched its supportive hands; at the UNSC, when Ethiopia was repeatedly accused for constructing hydropower generation dam on Abbay River, the issue unusually taken as security threat, Russia stood firm with Ethiopia upholding the truth that the latter has the right to use its natural resource.
In their longstanding relations, the two countries have strengthened ties in terms of economic attachment and cultural exchanges. Russia’s trade mission in Addis Ababa is working to facilitate the development of the trade and economic links.
Besides, the two friendly countries are working jointly in communication technologies; a nuclear energy cooperation road map and cooperation between customs services. In terms of training more than 20,000 Ethiopian citizens have completed study programs in Russia and the quota has increased. These all have consolidated their diplomatic relations.
Ethiopia’s membership in the BRICS bloc has opened new chapter that further strengthens the bilateral and multilateral relations Ethiopia has undertaken. Ethiopia almost all the time enjoys color blind diplomacy and striving to have friendly relations with the countries across the globe applying the principle of securing its national interest.
However, its membership in BRICS comes up with benefits not only for itself, but to contribute its share in making the world fair, just and equitable. For instance, Ethiopia is echoing loudly on behalf of Africa to get permanent seat with veto power at the UNSC. Commendably, Russia is among the nations that support this movement.
Ethiopia plays constructive role in promoting peace and prosperity correcting the global imbalance as a new member of the BRICS family in collaboration with all its members.
Diplomatic journey of the two countries that has gone through fire and water due to foreign policy shifts following regime and political ideology changes is getting fertile from time to time. There is, of course, a long way ahead that both are duty bound to accomplish in terms of political, economic and social spheres. The track record the two countries have registered in diplomatic relation so far testifies that they are capable to achieve even more successes in the future ensuring mutual benefits of their respective peoples.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2024
