BRICS Pivotal To Strengthen Multilateral Diplomatic Relations, Ensure Mutual Benefits

Addis Ababa December 6/2023 (ENA) Ethiopia’s accession to BRICS is pivotal for the development of multilateral diplomatic relations and ensuring mutual benefit, senior researcher the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Tesfaye Boyesa said.

Recall Ethiopia’s bid to join the emerging-markets bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) was endorsed at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in August 2023. 

Ethiopia was one of the 6 countries that was allowed to join the bloc.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, the senior researcher at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Tesfaye Boyesa highlighted that Ethiopia's joining of the BRICS provides several benefits.

The significance of BRICS to the world diplomatic arena is greater, he said, citing its importance to strengthening multilateral diplomacy and mutual benefit for Ethiopia.

The diplomatic efforts made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has enabled Ethiopia to join the BRICS which is instrumental to help strengthen its reputation and acceptance in the global world.  

“BRICS will provide opportunity to Ethiopia to have and discuss with the other newly included countries such as Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia, about its interest in the red sea region as these countries are members of the Red Sea Forum.  Hence, BRICS is important bloc for Ethiopia to secure vital supports from members of the red sea forum and the BRICS itself.”

On other hand, Tesfaye stated that Ethiopia’s accession to BRICS will help the country to play key role in the world political and economic system with a view to ensuring the interests of Africa besides protecting its national interests.

 “The bloc will help Ethiopia to represent Africa and safeguard its interest in the international fora. There are key agendas that Ethiopia has been promoting in the international area such as the climate financing and green legacy initiative. These agendas will become agendas of the BRICS too.

Hence, Ethiopia’s accession to the bloc will strengthen these national agendas to the global arena and we have to prepare in advance with a view to attaining these goals.” 

Ethiopia and other BRICS member countries have a huge development potential, so the strengthening of the cooperation is very important to Ethiopia. 

Thus, the researcher said Ethiopia's joining BRICS is vital for the development of multilateral diplomatic relations and ensure mutual benefit.

BRICS membership will also be instrumental to ease the shortages of foreign currency in Ethiopia as it strengthens trade and investment relations among the countries in the bloc, he said.