Ethiopia–United States relations

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Ethiopia–United States relations are bilateral relations between Ethiopia and the United States. Ethiopia is an important partner of the United States in the Global War on Terrorism. The United States is the largest donor to Ethiopia. In 2008 U.S. foreign aid to Ethiopia was US$969 million.

The United States of America and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia diplomatic relations has gone through decades and through multiple regime changes and billions of dollars of support. Since a new Prime Minister has entered the U.S attitude towards Ethiopia has drastically changed. The U.S government during the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (TPLF) period supported the dictator regime and ignored its human rights violations according to reports.[1][2]

TPLF Era relations[change | change source]

Bush and Meles[change | change source]

Meles Zenawi with George W. Bush

President Bush had a strong relationship with Meles Zenawi. The Bush administration didn't care about Meles's abuses and the human rights violations nor tried to make Ethiopia a freer society but only diplomacy mattered for the horn of Africa and the Bush administration's interests.[3][4][5]

Haile Mariam and Obama[change | change source]

Hailemariam Desalegn and Obama seen discussing

Barack Obama visited Ethiopia in 2015 as the first sitting U.S President ever to do so. But the visit included Obama's remarks on human rights. The President praised progress made in education, infrastructure and the economy. He said the government was democratically elected. But he also criticized the lack of democracy and leaders who refuse to step off, and discrimination against minorities. Obama had stayed in the city for a 2-day state visit[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Abiy Administration Era relations[change | change source]

The U.S under the Abiy admin has had poor U.S relations. It was from the start of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize when President Trump criticized Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Prize. Abiy responded and said the decisions were up to the Nobel committee and not him and he should have the problem with the Nobel committee. In 2020 the U.S president said it's a very dangerous situation because Egypt is not going to be able to live that way". He was referring to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. The President said Egypt would “blow up” the 5-billion-dollar dam. The Ethiopian government showed its huge disapproval. Later on, sanctions were imposed on the country for not allowing Egypt to have the upper hand on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project, but in 2023 these sanctions stopped. Ethiopia was allowed to get aid again. [12] [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Biden[change | change source]

Under Joe Biden the U.S State Department designated Ethiopia as an unsafe country. This was due to civil unrest and armed conflicts which are mostly in the north and hundreds of miles outside of the capital Addis Ababa. There were many calls for cease fire in the worn torn north of the country. The government of Ethiopia said they will not negotiate with terrorists. Biden in January the 11th made his first call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and exchanged views on the war in the northern region of the country. People have also aligned Biden with supporting the TPLF.[24] [25] [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]

References[change | change source]

  1. Korybko, Andrew (October 14, 2021). "Analyzing The American Hybrid War on Ethiopia". Zehabesha. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  2. Narang, Akshay (October 29, 2021). "To understand the Ethiopian war, one must understand Eritrea". TFI Global News. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. Wachter, Paul (February 15, 2007). "Bush's Somalia Strategy Enables an Ethiopian Despot". The Nation. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  4. Malone, Barry (May 24, 2010). "Timeline: From bush to PM, the rise of Meles Zenawi". Reuters. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  5. Maasho, Aaron (August 12, 2012). "Ethiopia's Zenawi rose from bush war fighter to towering political figure". Alarabiya News. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  6. "Barack Obama makes first visit to Ethiopia by serving US president". The Guardian. July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  7. O'FLYNN, ELAINE (July 27, 2015). "Obama defends controversial visit to Ethiopia as he is accused of putting US business interests ahead of human rights". Daily Mail. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  8. "OBAMA IN ETHIOPIA – WHAT A VISIT!". Addis Fortune.
  9. Smith, David (July 27, 2015). "Obama criticised for calling Ethiopia's government 'democratically elected'". The Guardian. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  10. Holmes, Kristen (June 19, 2015). "Obama to be first sitting U.S. President to visit Ethiopia". CNN. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  11. "Obama visits Kenya and Ethiopia". CNN. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  12. "'I Saved a Country': Donald Trump Claims Hand in Ethiopia PM's Nobel Peace Prize". News 18. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  13. "Donald Trump says He Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, Not Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed". Tesfa News. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  14. "Trump says he deserves Nobel Peace Prize not Abiy Ahmed". BBC. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  15. "Trump comment on 'blowing up' Nile Dam angers Ethiopia". BBC. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  16. Mariam, Alemayehu (October 24, 2020). "Donald Trump's Bluster to Blow Up the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam: A Threat Made by a Clown Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing!". ECAD Forum. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  17. "Ethiopia: Trump Calls for Egypt to Bomb Ethiopia Dam". All Africa. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. MESERET, ELIAS (October 24, 2020). "Ethiopia blasts Trump remark that Egypt will 'blow up' dam". ABC. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  19. Ezzeldin, Ezzeldin (October 23, 2020). "Trump: Egypt May Blow up GERD at Some Point". Sada Elbalad English. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  20. "Trouble as Trump dives into the dispute over Ethiopia's Nile mega-dam". DW.
  21. "Ethiopia denounces Trump for INCITING WAR by saying Egypt will 'BLOW UP' disputed Blue Nile dam project". RT. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  22. "Ethiopia Blasts Trump Remark That Egypt Will 'Blow Up' Dam". VOA by AP. October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  23. Moamar, Ahmed (February 11, 2021). "Biden Cancels Trump's Sanctions on Ethiopia over GERD". See. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  24. "Ethiopia Travel Advisory". Travel.State.Gov. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  25. "News: In first phone call with Abiy, Biden renews plea for negotiated ceasefire, humanitarian access; Abiy says discussion "candid"". Addis Standard. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  26. Tadesse, Helen (January 11, 2022). "PM Abiy Holds Phone Talks with President Biden". Walta. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  27. "Biden raises concerns over air strikes in call with Ethiopia's Abiy". Reuters. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  28. ANNA, CARA (January 11, 2022). "Ethiopian drone strike kills 17 on day of Biden-Abiy call". ABC. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  29. "Readout of President Biden's Call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia". White House. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  30. "Ethiopia: Biden and PM Abiy discuss deescalating Tigray conflict". DW.
  31. "Ethiopian Drone Strike Kills 17 on Day of Biden-Abiy Call". The Epoch Times. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  32. "Biden raises concerns about Ethiopia conflict in call with Abiy". Aljazeera. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  33. Sisodia, Abhyoday (November 6, 2021). "Ethiopia enters endgame as the US goes all out to destabilise it". TFI Global News. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  34. "PM Abiy Holds Telephone Conversation with U.S President Biden". ENA. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  35. Walsh, Declan (January 11, 2022). "On Day Biden Calls Ethiopia's Leader to Urge Peace, a Drone Strike Kills 17". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  36. Kottasová and Pokharel, Ivana and Sugam (January 10, 2022). "Biden raises concerns with Ethiopia's Abiy over Tigray air strikes, urges ceasefire". CNN. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

Other websites[change | change source]