Foreign Minister Gedion, Secretary Rubio Confer to Strengthen U.S.-Ethiopia Strategic Ties

 

Addis Ababa, May 12, 2026 —  Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio aimed at further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and the United States, while also addressing regional issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to building on the strong foundation of cooperation and advancing a deeper strategic partnership between the two nations.

The diplomatic engagement follows the recent signing of the Bilateral Structured Dialogue (BSD) Framework in Washington, D.C., a mechanism designed to guide future cooperation in three key areas: economic prosperity through trade and investment, defense and security collaboration, and regional peace and stability.

Allison Hooker, who formalized the agreement alongside Gedion, said the framework is intended to revitalize ties between the two countries.

“The document renews and strengthens the relationship between the two countries,” Hooker said.

She added that the dialogue would play a critical role in expanding U.S. commercial engagement across Africa while laying the groundwork for future diplomatic cooperation.

“It is instrumental in expanding U.S. commercial access to Africa while setting the stage for future engagements,” she noted.