India and Ethiopia have embarked on a new phase of their longstanding defence relationship with the inaugural Joint Defence Cooperation (JDC) meeting held in New Delhi on October 15, 2025. The meeting marks a major milestone in the two nations’ efforts to institutionalize their defence partnership and expand collaborative activities under a structured strategic framework.
Leadership and Participation
The JDC meeting was co-chaired by Shri Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, India, and Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General for Defence Foreign Relations & Military Cooperation, Ethiopia. Senior officers from the Department of Defence (DoD), the three Services, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Department of Defence Production (DDP), and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) represented India at the session.
Expanding Areas of Cooperation
During the meeting, both sides conducted an in-depth review of the current defence engagements and agreed to explore new avenues of collaboration. The discussions focused on joint initiatives in:
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Military training and capacity building
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Joint exercises and exchanges between armed forces
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Defence medical cooperation
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Defence industry engagement and technology partnerships
Both delegations agreed to further diversify and deepen cooperation, aligning efforts toward shared security interests and regional stability.
Framework Under Defence Cooperation MoU
This meeting forms part of the institutional framework established under the Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier in 2025 by the Defence Ministers of India and Ethiopia. The MoU created a regular mechanism for structured dialogue, ensuring periodic consultations and strategic coordination between the two countries’ defence establishments.
Historical Context and Ongoing Partnership
India and Ethiopia share deep-rooted civilizational and historical ties that span more than 2,000 years. Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1950, and defence cooperation traces back to 1958, making Ethiopia one of India’s oldest defence partners in Africa.
The growing closeness in defence ties was also demonstrated through the participation of Ethiopia’s Army Chief in the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) Chiefs’ Conclave being hosted in New Delhi from October 14–16, 2025, further underscoring the strategic trust between the two nations.
Strengthening the India-Africa Defence Bond
The successful conduct of the inaugural JDC meeting reflects India’s broader vision of strengthening defence and security cooperation with African partners under the India-Africa Forum Framework. It reaffirms both countries’ commitment to promoting peace, stability, and mutual development through defence collaboration and capacity-building initiatives.
Conclusion
The first Joint Defence Cooperation meeting between India and Ethiopia marks a significant advancement in bilateral ties, setting the stage for enhanced strategic engagement in defence training, industry, and technology. As both nations reaffirm their shared commitment to mutual growth and regional stability, this partnership is expected to become a cornerstone of India’s wider strategic outreach in Africa.
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Source: PIB
