Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, attending his first BRICS summit as a representative of a member nation, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan for bilateral discussions. Putin welcomed Ethiopia’s recent inclusion in BRICS, emphasizing the historic and strategic ties between their nations, which span over a century. Highlighting their aligned stances on many global and regional issues, Putin praised Ethiopia’s support of Russian-led initiatives at the United Nations.
During the 16th BRICS Summit, Abiy called for strengthened intra-BRICS trade and investment in key sectors, presenting Ethiopia as the third-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia’s entry into BRICS, a group that champions a multipolar world, is seen as a step forward for the Global South in amplifying its influence on the world stage. Some BRICS members view the bloc as a counterbalance to Western-dominated global systems, with Ethiopia’s inclusion symbolizing the group’s broader aspirations.