Ethiopia, U.S. Deepen Defense Cooperation as Field Marshal Birhanu Holds Talks with AFRICOM Commander

Addis Ababa, July 27, 2026 (ENA) — Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), held high-level talks with General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The two sides discussed ways of strengthening bilateral defense cooperation, addressing regional security challenges, and expanding future military collaboration.

During the meeting, General Anderson said defense cooperation between Ethiopia and the United States continues to expand across multiple areas.

Cooperation reflects  the long-standing partnership and shared commitment of the two countries to promoting peace and stability in Africa he noted.

 

Anderson added that  the discussions focused on expanding areas of bilateral cooperation, strengthening joint efforts to counter terrorism—including threats posed by Al-Shabaab and ISIS in Somalia and identifying new opportunities for future collaboration.

General Anderson commended Ethiopia’s contributions to advancing regional peace and security, highlighting the joint hosting of the African Logistics and Communications Symposium as a reflection of the growing depth of defense cooperation between the two countries.

He emphasized that the partnership between Ethiopia and the United States extends beyond military operations, with both sides increasingly focused on building modern, sustainable defense capabilities to address Africa’s evolving security challenges through greater cooperation and collective action.

According to General Anderson, the primary purpose of his visit was to co-host the African Logistics and Communications Symposium with the ENDF.

 

He described the symposium as an important platform for sharing best practices, showcasing emerging technologies, strengthening engagement with the private sector, and enhancing the operational capacity of African defense institutions.

He further praised Ethiopia’s leadership in bringing African countries together to address shared security challenges and promote greater continental cooperation.

For his part, Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General of External Relations and Military Cooperation at the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, described the discussions as productive.

He added that the recent discussions would further strengthen the long-standing friendship and defense partnership between Ethiopia and the United States.

 

The meeting was attended by senior military officials from both countries, including U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga, according to the Ethiopian National Defense Force social media page.