As learnt from foreign Policy and diplomacy scholars, National interest is the fundamental objective of foreign policy of a given state. All foreign relation activities of any country are targeting at protecting national interest and national security. In the world of diplomacy, both practically and theoretically any intervention against the internal affairs of any sovereign state is strictly prohibited and forbidden.
Countries, either poor or rich, adopted their foreign policy and are practicing their external relations according to this core value of diplomacy highly pronouncing protection of national interest. Any foreign policy that fails to protect any country’s national interest already fails to protect the fundamental objective of the need for having foreign policy and diplomacy.
Violating the non-intervention principle of diplomacy in the modern world by a country against another is totally forbidden. At this situation, a country remains to reassess its relation with others to protect its national interest and national security. For Diplomacy scholars, intervening in internal jurisdiction of countries is the top violation of international laws, covenants and agreements and against the principles of international relations.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy and Strategy is among the progressive policies of the modern world, which considers all countries as potential friends and put no country or block as enemy. Ethiopia identified poverty as its potential enemy and as a threat to its national interest. Hence, fighting poverty and backwardness remains the hot agendas of Ethiopia’s national interest.
For this reason, Ethiopia adopted its Foreign Policy relations an “in-out” foreign policy, looking from inside to outside. Ethiopia is member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which is not aligned with or against any world major power block. The core principle of Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy relations is working with all potential friends and economic sources to speed-up development endeavors. Fighting poverty and to facilitating democratization and economic development at home are the core principles of Ethiopia’s diplomacy.
To achieve this goal, without associating itself or limited its activities with or against another world block (Western or Eastern powers), it keeps its friendship with all, unless they try to intervene in its national affairs and violate its national interest. With this principle, Ethiopia remains a true friend of all countries and both power blocks without compromising its national interest, working closely for common interests. Ethiopia’s international activities are designed and practiced to facilitate development, democratization and prosperity for its citizens, not depend on the ideology or principle of power blocks.
To strengthen and facilitate these designed principles, Ethiopia has seen the world as potential advantage and all countries of the world as potential friends for the economic development of the country. Ethiopia never allows external actors, be they are friends or enemies, super powers or poor countries, to intervene in its internal affairs, violate its core principles and jurisdictions..
At any situation, national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom to practice with in national jurisdiction to protect the national integrity are non-compromised. Any external relation is needed if and only if it helps the nation protect these core values and national interests.
Current activities by some western powers are showing to intervene in national interests of Ethiopia, especially against the jurisdiction and unity of the country. Following these acts, recently Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced that “any meddle in Ethiopia’s internal affairs is strictly forbidden,” adding that if such meddling continues, “Ethiopian government will be forced to reassess its relations” with the countries which are trying to intervene in its internal affairs.
According to MoFA, “Ethiopia should not be told to run and manage its internal affairs. Ethiopia is a sovereign nation and it cannot accept any dictates from outside, “on how to manage its own internal affairs.” While it is the desire of the Ethiopia and Ethiopians to remain always ready and open to engage with partners on issues of mutual interest and concern, it will be in a position to reassess its relations if these attempts to interfere in its internal affairs continue, the Minister on its recent statement issued.
Yet, no official measure and action has taken by Ethiopia even against the countries which it said “they are trying to force Ethiopia on how to manage its internal affairs and pass new resolutions to put sanctions against it,” there are reckless and baseless comments that “Ethiopia is siding with the Eastern Power blocks.” These comments emanate from the strong statement by Ethiopia against the interventionists of the Western powers targeting at safeguarding its national security and national interest since they violate the international principles.
But, siding and aligning to any group or block is against the history, culture and current stance of Ethiopia. Principle the DNA of its foreign policy and national interest only determines the country’s foreign policy relations. The alpha and omega of Ethiopia’s diplomacy and foreign relations is its national interest, not to side with any block.
Any country which protects its national interest and working together on issues of common interests is a true friend of Ethiopia, whether it comes from West or East. Any country who violates its core principles of national interest remains an enemy of the country, until it stops its interference, whether it comes from East or West. Ethiopia’s foreign relations and diplomacy are being practiced centering this core value of working for common development without interfering on each other’s internal affairs. Keeping this in mind, Ethiopia is practicing diplomacy as usual, without any policy or strategy shift.
From the beginning there is no any ideological shift in Ethiopia to side with any block. Its hot agenda is national unity, prosperity and democratization at home. For this purpose, Ethiopia with its revised Foreign Policy and Security Strategy applied medemer (synergy) as its core value, which promotes working together for common development. There is no block in Ethiopia’s foreign policy relations. It blames no one, it considers no country as a threat rather promoting strategic friendship to exploit further benefits with all friends and exploiting new ones.
Having this in mind, Ethiopia is continuing and will continue practicing its diplomacy with its unwavering principle of non-interference, non-aligned and working closely for common interest. Siding or aligning with other block officially means ideological changes or standing against the principles and norms of the other side. But, Ethiopia stands with its long standing principle of non-alignment and working cooperatively for mutual benefits and mutual concerns. There is no any policy or strategy shift on its foreign relations, only practicing its foreign relation keeping its core values.
Attainment of speedy economic development, democratization and peace are the fundamental values of Ethiopia’s national interests and its foreign relations are to support these ultimate national interest. Ethiopia puts “effective in-country effort to realize development vision and democratization,” any foreign relation and country which plays crucial role in realizing this vision is a true friend no matter what its internal ideology and political philosophy is.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
The Ethiopian Herald June 9/2021
