On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to discuss stability in the Horn of Africa and strengthen long-term security cooperation. According to a press statement issued by the U.S. State Department, the two leaders discussed mutual cooperation in areas such as stability, counterterrorism, economic development, and building a strong security presence in the Horn of Africa. However, the statement was brief and did not provide further details on any measures or agreements reached during the discussion. This phone conversation follows a previous one in December 2025, which also focused on security cooperation in the region. A report from the local Ethiopian newspaper Addis Ababa Standard noted that these talks were unusual as they did not touch on internal affairs such as politics, humanitarian issues, or administration, which are typically discussed during official meetings between Ethiopia and the U.S. Additionally, the timing of these talks coincides with a recent visit by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander Dagvin Aderson to Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Puntland. AFRICOM stated that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen U.S. efforts in pressuring extremist groups like Al-Shabab and ISIS, as well as expanding security cooperation with countries in the Horn. This visit and the subsequent talks suggest that Washington is prioritizing efforts to combat terrorism and promote stability in the Horn, as the region continues to face growing security and political challenges.
