External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, 9 October 2026, visited the National Palace and Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of his ongoing diplomatic engagement with the African nation. He was accompanied by Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), along with other senior officials.

Sharing glimpses from the visit on X, Jaishankar wrote: 'Visited the National Palace and Museum in Addis Ababa today. It vividly captures Ethiopia's rich culture, heritage and history.'

Bilateral Meeting with Ethiopian Foreign Minister

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held formal talks with his Ethiopian counterpart, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, in Addis Ababa. Discussions spanned a wide range of areas including education, culture, trade, investment, and digitalisation, with both sides agreeing to deepen the bilateral relationship.

Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting, noting that 'the Ministers discussed ways to further expand and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries in education and culture, trade and investment, and digitalisation.' The statement also noted that Jaishankar 'expressed his appreciation for Ethiopia's impactful participation in the recent BRICS Summit hosted by India.'

On X, Jaishankar described the talks as 'wide-ranging,' covering 'trade, investment, development projects to infrastructure, maritime, security, technology and culture,' in addition to exchanging 'perspectives on global developments, as well as strengthening our multilateral engagement and India–African Union partnership.'

India–Ethiopia Strategic Partnership

Jaishankar underscored the foundational values driving the bilateral relationship, stating that 'the India–Ethiopia Strategic Partnership is based on our shared values, common aspirations and historic South–South solidarity.' This framing is significant: India has been systematically deepening its engagement with African Union member states, and Ethiopia — as the seat of the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa — occupies a pivotal role in that outreach.

This comes amid India's broader push to strengthen ties across the African continent following the New Delhi G20 Summit, where the African Union was admitted as a permanent member — a diplomatic outcome India has consistently cited as a landmark achievement.

Regional Heads of Mission Conference

Beyond the bilateral agenda, Jaishankar is scheduled to chair the Regional Heads of Mission (HoMs) Conference in Addis Ababa, a periodic gathering that coordinates India's diplomatic strategy across the African region. According to the MEA, the visit also involves discussions with Ethiopia's broader leadership on 'the entire gamut of bilateral ties and exchange of perspectives on regional and global matters of mutual interest.'

Visit Follows Cote d'Ivoire Stop

Jaishankar arrived in Addis Ababa directly after concluding his visit to Cote d'Ivoire, making Ethiopia the second leg of his current African tour. Upon arrival, he posted on X: 'Hello Addis Ababa! Delighted to arrive in Ethiopia. Thank State Minister Berhanu Tsegaye for the warm reception. Look forward to productive engagements to advance our Strategic Partnership.'

The visit signals India's continued prioritisation of Africa as a strategic and economic partner, with Jaishankar's itinerary spanning multiple countries in a region where China has invested heavily over the past two decades. India's diplomatic and development-driven approach — emphasising South-South cooperation — is increasingly being positioned as a distinct alternative model for African partners.