Trade between Russia and Ethiopia more than tripled in 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The leaders discussed expanding economic, military, and educational ties as Ethiopia continued its participation in the bloc.
Bilateral commerce between Moscow and Addis Ababa surged more than three times over in 2025, according to statements from Russian leadership. The formal acknowledgment came as the two nations actively pursue deeper economic integration to complement a long-standing political alliance.
Trade Growth and Bilateral Figures at the BRICS Summit
Meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reviewed an expansion in mutual commerce. We have achieved a rapid growth in mutual trade. In 2025, it more than tripled and continues to grow,
Putin said during the high-level session.
Separate figures released by Russia’s Foreign Ministry put the total value of bilateral trade at more than 435 million US dollars for 2025, describing the increase as almost threefold from the previous year. Russian export shipments to Ethiopia consisted primarily of fertiliser, agricultural machinery, and energy equipment, while Ethiopian shipments to Russia featured coffee, flowers, and textiles.
PM Abiy said the increase in trade had created scope for further expansion. Our trade has grown several times. I hope there is a big room to grow still,
he said.
Despite the rapid increase, officials from both countries have acknowledged practical hurdles that must be cleared to sustain the momentum. Ethiopian and Russian officials have identified logistics and financial settlement mechanisms among the issues requiring attention, with some of the work being pursued through bilateral channels and BRICS.
Expanding Cooperation in Energy, Defense, and Education
Beyond standard merchandise trade, the strategic partnership spans energy infrastructure, defense, technology transfer, and human capital development. Russia has been pursuing cooperation with Ethiopia in energy and technology, including plans for nuclear power. Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom and Ethiopian Electric Power signed an action plan in Moscow in September 2025, while a three-year roadmap agreed earlier that year included training Ethiopian engineers and physicists.
Educational exchanges continue to serve as a cornerstone for bilateral relations. Putin said more than 20,000 Ethiopians had received education in Russia, describing the ties as a foundation for future humanitarian cooperation. Prime Minister Abiy confirmed that investment, military cooperation, and scholarships had also advanced since his previous meeting with Putin in Moscow.
Multilateral Engagement and Regional Diplomacy in New Delhi
Ethiopia’s participation in the summit underscores its broader diplomatic strategy following its full admission to the bloc on January 1, 2024. Putin said Ethiopia had made a constructive contribution to the grouping’s activities since joining. Expressing gratitude for Moscow’s backing, the PM thanked Putin for Russia’s support for Ethiopia’s BRICS membership, saying: Without your support, Ethiopia cannot be a member of the BRICS.
During the New Delhi meetings, Prime Minister Abiy held key consultations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen longstanding bilateral ties, focusing on enhancing defense cooperation, capacity building, technology transfer, and critical mineral development, alongside collaborative planning for COP32. Additional talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prioritized stability and security across the Red Sea and the broader Horn of Africa, emphasizing the necessity of diplomatic dialogue to support long-term regional peace. Parallel discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim centered on expanding economic ties, particularly by leveraging Malaysia’s industrial park management expertise, productivity strategies, and manufacturing capabilities, while also advancing joint goals in tourism and renewable energy.
Further broadening Ethiopia’s multilateral engagement, Prime Minister Abiy conferred with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on deepening UAE-Ethiopia economic partnerships, and held talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on expanding trade frameworks. Addressing the broader assembly, Prime Minister Abiy reaffirmed Ethiopia’s readiness to leverage the bloc’s vast resources, technology exchanges, and market size, highlighting BRICS’ potential to transform collective efforts into economic resilience.
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