Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) has articulated a sweeping vision for Ethiopia's future, one that not only ensures its stability in a turbulent global environment but also transforms it into a self-reliant, prosperous, and influential nation. This ambitious agenda centers on completing key infrastructure projects, fostering technological advancement, and strategically recalibrating Ethiopia's foreign policy.
Speaking on the nation's direction, Dr. Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia's updated foreign policy, designed to prioritize neighboring countries and cultivate extensive friendships, has been crucial for its resilience amidst global upheavals. He acknowledged the current worldwide instability marked by wars, rampant inflation, tariff disputes, mounting debt burdens, and budget shortfalls, underscoring the necessity for Ethiopia to adopt a foreign policy that actively addresses these complex realities.
The Prime Minister explained that a decisive shift has occurred from an earlier foreign policy—which he described as overly focused on political processes and representation and lacking measurable outcomes—to one centered on regional cooperation, trade expansion, and the cultivation of new alliances. This new approach, he stated, firmly prioritizes Ethiopia's national interests and is already yielding significant, tangible results. Key tenets of this revised policy, according to Dr. Abiy, include unwavering neutrality amidst international turmoil, the strategic diversification of diplomatic options, and a proactive stance in global affairs, positioning Ethiopia as an "agenda-setter" rather than just an "agenda-taker."
This strategic pivot has enabled Ethiopia to avoid dependency on any single power, instead fostering a broad network of allies. Dr. Abiy noted that the nation is now adept at adapting to changing global dynamics without being constrained by rigid ideological commitments. Citing Ethiopia's approach to relations in the Middle East as an example, he stated, "We do not say we don't need Israel just because we are friends with Arabs. If we can, we resolve the conflict between them; if not, we maintain our neutrality and protect our interests from both."
Beyond diplomacy, Prime Minister Abiy's vision for a prosperous Ethiopia involves transforming current struggles into historical footnotes. He highlighted the imminent completion of pivotal projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the Koisha Dam, which are central to building robust infrastructure and modern cities. Ethiopia aims to enhance national capacity by producing its own fertilizer, a critical step towards agricultural self-sufficiency.
Looking to the future, the Prime Minister articulated ambitions for Ethiopia to compete vigorously in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and advanced technology. The nation is also set to establish a significant presence in space science, further solidifying its global influence. By maximizing its extensive resources through large-scale farming initiatives and fundamentally shifting from a paradigm of aid dependency to one of productivity, Ethiopia is set on a path to becoming a self-reliant and resilient nation, driven by focused, result-oriented efforts across all sectors.