The inaugural Joint Defence Cooperation (JDC) meeting between India and Ethiopia was held in New Delhi on Wednesday, marking a new milestone in bilateral defence relations.
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, Amitabh Prasad, and Director General for Defence Foreign Relations and Military Cooperation of Ethiopia, Maj. Gen. Teshome Gemechu.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation and explored new avenues for collaboration in areas such as training, joint military exercises, medical cooperation, and defence industry engagement. The delegations agreed to further deepen and diversify defence cooperation activities.
The JDC meeting is part of the institutional framework established under the Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Defence Ministers of India and Ethiopia earlier in 2025. The MoU provides a structured mechanism for regular exchanges and strategic dialogue between the two nations.
Ethiopia is one of India’s key defence partners in Africa, with cooperation dating back to 1958. The growing partnership is further reflected in the participation of Ethiopia’s Army Chief in the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) Chiefs’ Conclave, hosted by India in New Delhi from October 14–16, 2025.
Beyond defence, India and Ethiopia share historical and civilizational ties spanning over 2,000 years. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1950, and the two nations today maintain close cooperation in trade, culture, education, and development.
The successful convening of the first JDC meeting underscores the expanding strategic partnership between India and Ethiopia and reaffirms their shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The Indian delegation included senior officers from the Department of Defence, the three Services, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Department of Defence Production (DDP), and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
