Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s Abiy Ahmed BRICS Summit visit to New Delhi is drawing to a close as the 18th BRICS Summit concludes on September 13, 2026. Abiy arrived in the Indian capital on Friday, September 11, where he was received by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and given a ceremonial welcome by armed forces personnel.
Bilateral Talks With PM Modi
Abiy held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on Saturday, on the sidelines of the summit. Modi described the discussions as taking “an old friendship into new frontiers.” The talks covered defence, capacity building, investment linkages, critical minerals, and clean energy.
The two leaders also discussed joint personnel training and defence procurement, with Ethiopia showing particular interest in Indian mining companies. It marked Abiy’s first visit to India.
Ethiopia’s Role in the Expanded BRICS
Ethiopia became a full BRICS member in January 2024, alongside Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Membership has opened new export markets for Ethiopian coffee, flowers, and other agricultural products. Indian and Chinese firms have also shown interest in investing in Ethiopia’s telecom, technology, and infrastructure sectors.
Other Engagements in Delhi
During his stay, Abiy also met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the summit sidelines, exchanging goodwill messages between Ethiopia and the UAE.
