This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and Ethiopia: how relations were established, the strategic partnership announced in December 2025, high-level visits and meetings, dialogue mechanisms, engagement through the African Union and other forums, and the main framework agreements. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of April 2026 and reflects the position at that date.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, a goodwill mission led by Sardar Sant Singh was sent to Ethiopia soon after India achieved independence. Diplomatic relations at legation level were established in 1948. Full diplomatic relations were established in 1950, with Sardar Sant Singh as the first Ambassador.

Strategic partnership

The Prime Minister of India paid a visit to Ethiopia on 16-17 December 2025. The brief records that the visit elevated ties between the two countries to a strategic partnership.

High-level visits

Earlier high-level visits from India listed in the brief are:

  • President S. Radhakrishnan (1965)
  • Vice President Zakir Hussain (1967)
  • President V.V. Giri (1972)
  • PM Manmohan Singh (2011)
  • Vice President Hamid Ali Ansari (May 2013)
  • President Ram Nath Kovind (2017)

High-level visits from Ethiopia listed in the brief are those of Emperor Haile Selassie (1956 and 1968), Col. Hailemariam Mengistu (1983 and 1985), PM Meles Zenawi (1997, 2007, 2008 and 2011) and PM Hailemariam Desalegn (2015).

Meetings between the Prime Ministers

The brief records the following contacts between the Prime Minister of India and Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed:

  • 6 May 2020: a telephone conversation in which the two leaders discussed the domestic, regional and global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed solidarity with each other during the health crisis.
  • 24 August 2023: a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where they discussed expanding cooperation in parliamentary contacts, development partnership and capacity building, trade and investment, defence, ICT, agriculture, skilling of youth and people to people linkages.
  • 17 November 2023: the Ethiopian Prime Minister participated in the inaugural Leaders' Session at the Second Voice of the Global South Summit.
  • 17 August 2024: the Ethiopian Prime Minister participated in the third Voice of Global South, chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
  • 22 November 2025: a discussion on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg on boosting ties in sectors such as technology and skilling.
  • 12 September 2026: a meeting in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, where the two leaders reviewed progress in economic cooperation, defence and security partnership, and capacity building.

External Affairs Minister's engagement

The External Affairs Minister (EAM) has held a series of meetings with Ethiopian leaders:

  • 26 September 2021 and 21 September 2022: meetings on the sidelines of UNGA in New York.
  • 27 August 2021: a telephone conversation with the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, which covered bilateral relations and UNSC matters, including the developments in Ethiopia.
  • 22 June 2022: a visit to Addis Ababa for discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on issues of bilateral, regional and global significance. EAM also called on the Prime Minister and the President.
  • 13 April 2023: a visit to Addis Ababa, where EAM met the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. They discussed bilateral relations and developments in the region, and shared views on multilateral cooperation, including in the African Union and the United Nations.
  • 14 April 2023: a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during EAM's visit to Mozambique.
  • 25 September 2024: a meeting with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA on bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation.
  • 20 February 2025: a meeting with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Johannesburg on bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations.

Dialogue mechanisms

An agreement to establish a Joint Commission, listed in the brief as the Agreement on Establishment of Joint Ministerial Commission, was signed in July 2007. The first meeting was held in New Delhi in December 2010. The second JCM, also in New Delhi, was held in May 2018 and headed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. An MoU between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Foreign Service Training Institute of Ethiopia was signed after the conclusion of that JCM.

A Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was signed during the visit of the then EAM to Ethiopia in July 2007. The first FOC was held in New Delhi in March 2010, the second in Addis Ababa in January 2012 and the third in Addis Ababa in February 2017.

The 4th Round of FOC was held in Addis Ababa on 3 October 2022. It was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa), MEA, and the Director General for Middle East, Asia and Pacific countries Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia. The delegations reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including political engagements, trade and economic matters, development partnership projects, cooperation in higher education and people-to-people contacts. They agreed to work to expand engagement in fields including defence, science and technology, education, and agriculture and allied sectors, and exchanged views on regional and global issues and AU related matters.

Parliamentary and other exchanges

A multi-party Parliamentary delegation led by Ms. Supriya Sule visited Ethiopia from 30 May to 1 June 2025, as part of a four-nation tour planned following the 22 April Pahalgam terrorist attack, "Operation Sindoor" and subsequent developments. The delegation met former Prime Minister Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn; Mr. Adem Farah, Deputy Chairperson of the Prosperity Party with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives; and representatives of the African Union. The discussions focused on India's stance of "zero tolerance towards terrorism". According to the brief, Ethiopia expressed strong solidarity with India and reiterated its own commitment to combating terrorism.

A seven-member Ethiopian delegation led by the Chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) visited New Delhi from 26-30 August 2025.

The African Union, BRICS and other forums

Several engagements recorded in the brief involve the African Union (AU) and other multilateral forums. Under the India-Africa Forum Summit initiative, the 3rd ICWA Conference on "India's Engagement with North Africa and Horn of Africa: Issues, Initiatives and Prospects" was held in Addis Ababa in March 2019. The two-day conference was attended by speakers from 10 African countries, including Ethiopia.

In preparation for the Fourth India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV), to be held in New Delhi, the brief records:

  • 11-12 June 2025: a three-member delegation led by Secretary (ER) held preparatory meetings in Ethiopia with the Chairperson and senior Commissioners of the African Union Commission, the Director General of Africa CDC, the Executive Secretary of UNECA, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC) and Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs.
  • 1-5 December 2025: a six-member AU team visited Delhi for consultations on the summit.
  • 23-24 January 2026: a delegation led by Secretary (ER) visited Addis Ababa and met the AU Commission Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and other senior officials, with discussions focused on the India-Africa partnership ahead of IAFS-IV.

A delegation led by Amb. Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), took part in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, held discussions with Secretary (ER) and visited the Center for United Nations Peacekeeping. Ethiopia has endorsed the AI Impact Summit Declaration (New Delhi, 18-19 February 2026).

Amb. Hadera Abera, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ethiopia's BRICS Sherpa, led Ethiopia's delegation to the First BRICS Sherpas' Meeting 2026 in New Delhi on 9 February 2026.

Framework agreements

Besides the Joint Commission agreement and the FOC Protocol, the brief's list of bilateral agreements includes an MoU between FSI and Foreign Service Institute of Ethiopia (2018). The rest of the list covers air services, trade, investment, taxation, customs, science and technology, agriculture, culture, education, information and media, digital public infrastructure, defence, peacekeeping training and big cat conservation.