India and Ethiopia deepen defence cooperation at Addis Ababa meeting
India and Ethiopia held their second Joint Defence Cooperation meeting in Addis Ababa on Monday, with discussions covering military training, joint exercises, medical cooperation, peacekeeping and defence industries.
The meeting was co-chaired by Sanjay Kumar, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General for Defence Foreign Relations and Military Cooperation of Ethiopia.
Both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation and increase exchanges between their defence institutions.
Military training and exercises were among the areas discussed. The two countries also considered greater exchange of personnel from training institutions and opportunities for sharing operational experience.
Medical cooperation and peacekeeping were also included in the discussions, reflecting the wider range of activities covered by the bilateral defence relationship.
The two sides also explored possibilities for joint ventures in defence production. Delegation visits and experience-sharing interactions were identified as additional areas where cooperation could be strengthened.
The meeting is part of the institutional mechanism established after India and Ethiopia signed a Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding in February 2025.
The first Joint Defence Cooperation meeting was held in New Delhi in October 2025.
India and Ethiopia have maintained defence relations for several decades, with cooperation extending to training and professional exchanges. During the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Ethiopia in December 2025, the bilateral relationship was elevated to the level of a Strategic Partnership.
The latest meeting provides a platform for both countries to review ongoing cooperation and identify new areas for defence engagement.
Both sides agreed to expand and deepen defence cooperation through institutional exchanges, joint activities and greater interaction between their defence establishments.
