Türkiye, Ethiopia Sign Energy Cooperation Deal During Erdoğan Visit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Addis Ababa after 11 years produced a new bilateral energy agreement, reinforcing Türkiye’s expanding strategic and economic presence in the Horn of Africa.

Erdogan carried out a one day visit on Feb 17, 2026, following an invitation from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The talks concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation.

Türkiye’s Energy Ministry said the accord would function as a roadmap for joint production initiatives and project development, particularly in renewable energy, hydroelectric systems, and energy efficiency.

Energy Partnership Framework

Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar described the agreement as a mechanism for translating technical collaboration into operational projects. He emphasized the intention to “strengthen the exchange of expertise,” highlighting cooperation across electricity generation, grid infrastructure, renewable investments, and hydroelectric development.

The ministry specified that the partnership would include collaboration on the production and installation of hydroelectric power plant equipment and electric turbines.

Bayraktar framed the deal as a shift from dialogue toward implementation, signaling a focus on “concrete projects” and expanded industrial cooperation.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused on deepening bilateral cooperation and reaffirming long-standing ties. He described the discussions as “substantive,” noting that they reinforced an “enduring friendship” and “robust cooperation” between Ethiopia and Türkiye. Abiy added that both sides exchanged views on “strategic areas of collaboration” and renewed their commitment to partnerships that “serve the interests of both nations,” expressing confidence that continued engagement would further strengthen relations.

Broader Economic Coordination

Beyond energy, Bayraktar confirmed the signing of the 9th Term Protocol of the Türkiye-Ethiopia Joint Economic Commission with Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide. He said the framework would deepen cooperation across sectors ranging from energy and mining to education, health, transportation, agriculture, environment, urban development, culture, and tourism.

He described the outcome as agreement on “a comprehensive roadmap” designed to both expand existing partnerships and formalize new areas of collaboration.

Horn of Africa Strategic Context

The Ethiopia accord follows Türkiye’s intensified energy diplomacy across the Horn of Africa. On Sunday, Türkiye dispatched its deep-sea drilling vessel Çağrı Bey to Somalia, marking Ankara’s first offshore exploration mission conducted outside its maritime jurisdiction.

Turkish officials have framed successive agreements and deployments as part of a broader strategy to enhance Türkiye’s regional and global effectiveness in the energy domain.

Türkiye’s growing role builds on earlier diplomatic engagement. In 2024, Ankara mediated between Ethiopia and Somalia during tensions over Addis Ababa’s Somaliland port initiative, reinforcing Türkiye’s position as a regional interlocutor.

Energy as Strategic Lever

The Addis Ababa agreement illustrates Türkiye’s use of energy cooperation as a foreign policy instrument linking technology transfer, infrastructure investment, and industrial partnerships.

For Ethiopia, which prioritizes electrification, renewable capacity expansion, and hydroelectric infrastructure, the agreement opens pathways for Turkish technical expertise and equipment supply.

Erdogan’s visit signals continuity in Türkiye’s Africa policy, where economic diplomacy, energy partnerships, and geopolitical engagement increasingly converge.