Ethiopia, Russia sign military pact amid tensions with US
Russia and Ethiopia have signed a military cooperation agreement amid tensions with the United States.
The agreement came at the conclusion of three days of
deliberations held as part of the military technical cooperation forum in the
Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
Finance Division State Minister of the Ethiopian National
Defense Force Martha Liwij said the agreements signed on Monday will have a
“paramount significance” in transforming the longstanding relations between the
two nations to a higher level, according to the local broadcaster FANA.
"The agreement will be focusing on transforming capacity of
the [Ethiopian] national defense force in knowledge, skill and technology
spheres," it said.
Russia has long been one of Ethiopia's leading suppliers of
military hardware.
This Russia-Ethiopia agreement has been signed amid tensions
between Addis Ababa and Washington.
Last month hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians of all walks of
life took to the streets to protest what they described as interference by the
US administration.
In the capital Addis Ababa, the protesters filled the city's old
stadium and the surrounding streets in a well-organized, peaceful demonstration
dubbed Voices of Freedom and Sovereignty.
US President Joe Biden cemented his administration's
anti-Ethiopia stance with impossible calls that angered the vast majority of
Ethiopians.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration strongly denounced
the visa restrictions imposed by the Biden administration against unnamed
officials and army members, and threatened stronger measures, including the
suspension of security aid.
“We demand the US to rethink its stance on Ethiopia,” “We will
never kneel down for external pressure,” "We elect our leaders,” and “It
is my dam” were some of the messages displayed on placards at the rally.
The protesters in contrast displayed the photos of Turkish,
Chinese, and Russian presidents in a show of praise and respect.
Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea have both accused the US of
meddling in Ethiopia's restive Tigray region.
The US has recently imposed sanctions against some
Ethiopian officials who Washington blames for alleged human rights abuses in
the country’s restive Tigray Province.
Both Russia and Ethiopia are now facing US sanctions and this could result more mutually beneficial agreements between the two countries.
