Ethiopia signs a military deal with Russia, a deal that can seriously undermine US-Ethiopia relations.
NCMP
July 13, 2021
Ethiopia and Russia have signed a military cooperation deal following three days of talks, Ethiopia’s state-linked broadcaster Fana reports. The Ethiopian foreign ministry in response said the move was “regrettable” and could “seriously undermine” US-Ethiopia relations.
The Ethiopian Defence Force’s finance division signed the deal, which it said will boost “long-standing relations between the two nations to a higher degree.”
The agreement will reportedly focus on improving the national defence force’s knowledge, skill, and technical capabilities.
Ethiopia’s foreign policy alignment has recently shifted to Russia and China as a result of substantial pressure from the US government over the war in the Tigray region.
In May, supporters of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held an anti-US protest in the capital, Addis Ababa, and in western countries, denouncing President Joe Biden.
The protesters applauded Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping.
The Biden administration imposed restrictions on visas and economic assistance to the Ethiopian government over the war.
