Ethiopia Welcomes Saudi Deputy FM: A Strategic Response to Regional Unrest

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Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, engaged in high-level discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Foreign Minister, Waleed Abdulkarim El Khereiji, during the latter’s official visit to Addis Ababa.

As reported by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks aimed to enhance economic cooperation and address key bilateral and regional issues. This meeting occurred amidst rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, following Asmara’s accusations that Addis Ababa has expansionist intentions, particularly regarding the Red Sea port of Assab.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki had previously communicated with the Saudi government through his foreign minister, warning against what he termed Ethiopia’s “warmongering.” Pro-government Eritrean sources also indicated that Saudi Arabia and Eritrea have reached an investment agreement concerning the Assab port.

In contrast, Ethiopian officials have avoided public confrontations, focusing instead on diplomacy and economic collaboration. During their discussions, Minister Gedion and Vice Minister El Khereiji addressed regional instability, including the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan. Ethiopia reiterated its neutral position and commitment to peace efforts, while El Khereiji confirmed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to working with all parties to resolve the Sudanese crisis.

In a separate engagement, El Khereiji met with Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Misganu Arega, where they discussed economic cooperation in areas such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and technology. They also touched on joint efforts to combat human trafficking.

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 While both parties referenced “regional issues,” the official statements did not specify whether the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea were discussed directly. Given the rising rhetoric and warnings of potential conflict, observers suspect this topic was likely addressed privately. On Tuesday, Eritrea briefed foreign diplomats in Asmara, calling for international pressure on Ethiopia to uphold regional sovereignty. Meanwhile, Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of collaborating with elements of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to undermine northern Ethiopia, claims supported by opposition figures and the outgoing president of Tigray’s Interim Administration.