On February 17, 2026, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, received the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Addis Ababa for a visit that combined symbolism with hard geopolitical calculation. Marking the centenary of the opening of Türkiye’s embassy in Ethiopia in 1926, Erdoğan’s first official trip to the country in over a decade underscored the consolidation of a partnership that is increasingly central to the balance of power in the Horn of Africa.

Beyond the ceremonial honours, the visit reflected Ankara’s determination to entrench itself as a pivotal actor in a region marked by fragile political fault lines and intense competition among regional and global powers. The core of the summit lay in economic and military pragmatism rather than symbolism. Turkish investments in Ethiopia exceeded 2.5 billion US dollars in 2025, concentrated in textiles, railway infrastructure and energy. With bilateral trade reaching approximately 253 million US dollars last year, Türkiye has consolidated its position as Ethiopia’s second-largest foreign investor after China.

The leaders held bilateral and inter-delegation meetings covering trade, energy, security and regional affairs. Prime Minister Abiy described the relationship as a “deep partnership”, signalling Addis Ababa’s view of Ankara as a reliable alternative to both a more cautious Beijing and Western partners often perceived as politically intrusive.

A central outcome of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. The agreement establishes a framework for joint projects in electricity generation, hydroelectric development, grid infrastructure and renewable energy investment. For Ethiopia, which aspires to become an East African energy hub through projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the accord offers technology transfer and engineering expertise. For Türkiye, it opens further opportunities for its construction and energy firms in a fast-growing market.

The 9th Türkiye–Ethiopia Joint Economic Commission also produced a protocol reinforcing commitments on trade, investment and technical cooperation, with both sides reiterating their ambition to raise bilateral trade towards one billion US dollars. These agreements provide an institutional roadmap for the next phase of economic integration, including follow-up commissions to monitor implementation.

Geopolitically, the meeting must be understood within Türkiye’s broader activism in the Horn of Africa. Ankara has emerged as a significant security actor, maintaining a major military base in Somalia and expanding defence exports across the continent. It previously supplied drones to Ethiopia during the Tigray conflict, altering the military balance prior to the 2022 ceasefire. At the same time, Türkiye has positioned itself as a mediator in regional disputes, including tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over access to maritime routes.

Ethiopia’s strategic weight amplifies the importance of this partnership. As the second most populous country in Africa, the largest economy in the Horn, and host of the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, it is a diplomatic and political hub. Although landlocked since Eritrea’s independence in 1991, its proximity to the Red Sea corridor makes it central to trade routes linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia. During the visit, Abiy reiterated Ethiopia’s aspiration for secure access to the Red Sea, seeking diplomatic backing from Ankara.

Türkiye’s engagement reflects a calculated effort to shape a shifting regional order. Erdoğan’s recent travels to Saudi Arabia and Egypt suggest tactical coordination with key Middle Eastern actors, while Ankara seeks to balance the influence of Gulf states, notably the United Arab Emirates, and to counter expanding Israeli interests along the Red Sea corridor. By deepening ties with Addis Ababa, Ankara reinforces its claim to be both a security guarantor and an economic partner in Eastern Africa.

The next steps will centre on implementing the energy MoU, expanding trade towards the one-billion-dollar target, and sustaining high-level political dialogue. Joint commissions are expected to translate framework agreements into operational projects, particularly in infrastructure and renewables. Diplomatically, Türkiye is likely to continue supporting regional stability initiatives while maintaining its stance on territorial integrity and negotiated solutions.

In strategic terms, the 17 February meeting confirmed that Türkiye has moved beyond the status of an emerging power in Africa. It is now acting as a middle power with tangible leverage, combining military presence, economic investment and diplomatic mediation. Whether this “Turkish way” will stabilise the Horn of Africa remains uncertain, but the Addis Ababa summit clearly signalled Ankara’s intention not merely to observe the region’s transformation, but to help shape it.

© Eurasia Review