India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, during the 18th BRICS Summit being hosted by India in New Delhi. The meeting focused on deepening bilateral ties between the two nations across multiple areas of cooperation.
This encounter took place alongside the broader BRICS Summit proceedings, where leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with invited nations, gather to discuss shared interests and global challenges.
What was discussed
The two Prime Ministers reviewed the state of India-Ethiopia relations across several domains. Economic cooperation formed a key part of the agenda, alongside defence and security matters. Both sides also discussed capacity building initiatives that could benefit Ethiopia.
The conversation built on momentum from an earlier high-level engagement. Prime Minister Modi had visited Addis Ababa in December 2025, marking a significant moment in bilateral relations. That visit set the stage for today’s meeting to build further on the Strategic Partnership between India and Ethiopia.
Beyond bilateral matters, the leaders exchanged views on wider regional and international issues of common concern. Both reaffirmed their intention to work closely together within multilateral organisations and forums.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted Ethiopia’s role in the BRICS Summit as India chairs it. He noted that Ethiopia’s participation strengthens the voice of the Global South on the world stage, referring to the collective interests of developing nations in international affairs.
What this means for you
For Indian citizens and businesses, deeper ties with Ethiopia could open doors to new trade opportunities and partnerships in East Africa’s largest economy. The focus on defence and security cooperation signals India’s interest in maintaining strong relationships in a strategically important region. For students and policy observers, this interaction reflects India’s broader diplomatic strategy of engaging developing nations and building coalitions in global forums beyond traditional Western-led structures.