Ethiopia Seeks Turkey’s Support for Maritime Access During Erdogan Visit
Speaking at a joint press briefing, Abiy explained that discussions with the Turkish leader centered on Ethiopia’s “quest for sea access,” adding that the talks were constructive and reflected mutual understanding on the matter.
Ethiopia has been without direct maritime access since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, a development that left the country landlocked. Since then, securing dependable access to ports has remained a long-term strategic objective for Addis Ababa.
Erdogan’s trip, which included senior Turkish officials such as the foreign and defense ministers, was viewed as a significant diplomatic engagement. The visit comes as both nations mark a century of bilateral ties that began in 1926 and look to expand cooperation across economic and political spheres.
Trade expansion featured prominently in the talks. Ethiopian officials indicated that both governments aim to raise bilateral trade volume to at least $1 billion. Abiy also called for increased investment from Turkish firms, noting that Ethiopia already hosts one of the largest clusters of Turkish enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
The leaders further explored collaboration in multilateral settings, including climate-related negotiations tied to COP31, which is scheduled to take place in Türkiye next year before being hosted by Ethiopia.
In recent years, Türkiye has stepped up its diplomatic outreach in the Horn of Africa, strengthening its role in commerce, development initiatives, and mediation in regional conflicts.
Abiy characterized the meetings as productive and forward-looking, stating that Ankara acknowledges Ethiopia’s strategic significance within the region.
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