Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, held high-level talks on Wednesday with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Foreign Minister, Waleed Abdulkarim El Khereiji, during the latter’s official visit to Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on bolstering economic cooperation and exchanging views on key bilateral and regional matters. The visit came amid heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, following accusations from Asmara that Addis Ababa harbors expansionist ambitions, particularly concerning the Red Sea port of Assab.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki had earlier sent a message to the Saudi government through his foreign minister, warning against what he described as Ethiopia’s “warmongering.” Reports from pro-government Eritrean sources also claim that Saudi Arabia and Eritrea have finalized an investment agreement involving the Assab port.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian officials have refrained from public confrontation, instead emphasizing diplomacy and economic engagement. Minister Gedion and Vice Minister El Khereiji reportedly discussed regional instability, including the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan. Ethiopia reiterated its neutral stance and support for peace efforts, while El Khereiji affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to end the Sudanese crisis.
In a separate meeting, El Khereiji also met with Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Misganu Arega. Their talks explored economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, mining, tourism, and technology. Joint efforts to combat human trafficking were also addressed.
Although both sides mentioned “regional issues,” the official statements did not clarify whether the increasingly tense Ethiopia-Eritrea relationship was specifically discussed. Given the rising rhetoric and warnings of a possible conflict, observers believe the issue was likely on the agenda, albeit behind closed doors.
On Tuesday, Eritrea briefed foreign diplomats in Asmara, urging international pressure on Ethiopia to respect regional sovereignty. Addis Ababa, meanwhile, accuses Eritrea of aligning with elements of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to destabilize northern Ethiopia — allegations echoed by opposition figures and the outgoing president of Tigray’s Interim Administration.
