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India's Historic Ethiopia Visit Amid 2026 BRICS Chairmanship: What It Means

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a historic two-day state visit to Ethiopia, his first to the country. This visit is particularly significant as it's the first by an Indian PM in 15 years, marking a major diplomatic moment. The talks will focus on strengthening the long-standing bilateral relationship and enhancing cooperation on global issues, especially within the BRICS framework. With India scheduled to chair the BRICS summit in 2026 and Ethiopia being a new member, this visit sets the stage for deeper collaboration.

Key Points: PM Modi's Historic Ethiopia Visit Strengthens BRICS Ties

  • PM Modi's visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Ethiopia in 15 years
  • Discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and international partnerships
  • The visit gains significance with India set to chair the BRICS summit in 2026
  • Ethiopia is a new BRICS member, joining the grouping officially in January 2024
3 min read

With India to chair BRICS summit in 2026, PM Modi's Ethiopia visit historic moment: Indian Envoy Rai

PM Modi's first Ethiopia visit in 15 years marks a historic moment to deepen bilateral ties and cooperation on BRICS agendas ahead of India's 2026 chairmanship.

"This is a very historic moment for us and we see that there is a big and rich agenda on which the discussions will take place. - Ambassador Anil Kumar Rai"

Addis Ababa, December 15

With India set to chair the BRICS summit in 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Ethiopia marks a "very historic moment" that will strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation on international issues, including UN reforms and BRICS agendas, said India's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai.

Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister's two-day state visit to the African country from December 16 to December 17, Ambassador Rai on Sunday highlighted the two countries' "long-standing, deep and friendly relationship" and their status as important partners on international issues, noting that both are members of the BRICS grouping.

"India and Ethiopia are two civilisational countries, and we have a very long-standing, deep and friendly relationship. PM Narendra Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ethiopia in the last 15 years. So this is a very historic moment for us and we see that there is a big and rich agenda on which the discussions will take place. It will strengthen the cooperation at the bilateral level. Both countries are members of BRICS. And we are very important partners when it comes to cooperating on international issues, such as UN reforms and regional issues, and also there are agendas which we discuss at the regional level, particularly at the level of BRICS. India is going to be the chair of BRICS in 2026, with Ethiopia being an important member. So all those issues will come up during the discussions," the Ambassador said.

India is one of the founding members of the formal grouping. The organisation was first formalised at the BRIC Foreign Ministers meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York in 2006, with the first summit taking place in Russia in 2009.

Following South Africa's inclusion in the organisation in 2010, the group was expanded to BRICS.

Ethiopia officially joined BRICS in January 2024, following an invitation in August 2023 under South Africa's chairmanship. Along with Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the UAE became the full members of the grouping.

Rai further stated that multiple sectors are under discussion, and the visit's outcomes are expected to be shared with the media on the evening of December 16.

"We are under discussion in multiple sectors, and we expect a good outcome from this visit, which will be conveyed to the media on the evening of the 16th," he added.

PM Modi will be in Ethiopia for a two-day state visit, during the second leg of his three-nation visit following his visit to Jordan.

He will be in the African nation at the invitation of Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this will be PM Modi's first visit to Ethiopia, duirng which he will be holding wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Ali on all aspects of India-Ethiopia bilateral ties.

"As partners in the Global South, the visit will be a reiteration of the shared commitment of the two nations to advance close ties of friendship and bilateral cooperation," the MEA said in a statement.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
It's good to see India actively engaging with the Global South. The focus on UN reforms is particularly important. Hope this visit leads to more collaborative projects in agriculture and technology transfer that benefit both populations.
V
Vikram M
First PM visit in 15 years! Long overdue. Ethiopia is a key partner in Africa. With both countries in BRICS now, this partnership can be a model for South-South cooperation. Let's hope for strong agreements in infrastructure and digital payment systems.
P
Priya S
While international diplomacy is important, I hope our government also focuses with equal energy on pressing domestic issues. The visit is historic, but the benefits must trickle down to common people through job creation and stable prices.
R
Rohit P
Jai Hind! Our PM is putting India on the world map. Chairing BRICS in 2026 is a huge responsibility and opportunity. Building strong bilateral ties now is smart planning. Ethiopia's inclusion in BRICS makes this partnership even more significant.
K
Kavya N
As two ancient civilizations, India and Ethiopia have so much to share culturally. Beyond politics and BRICS, I hope there's focus on educational exchanges, tourism, and preserving our shared heritage. The people-to-people connection is vital.

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