Indian delegation reviews training facilities at Holota; engagement reflects growing defence and capacity-building partnership
New Delhi/Holota, Ethiopia: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence Sanjay Kumar visited the Ethiopia Military Academy in Holota along with the Indian delegation, where he was briefed on the Academy’s training capabilities and toured its facilities.
During the visit, Sanjay Kumar appreciated the important role played by the Academy in training Ethiopian Army cadets and strengthening the professional capabilities of Ethiopia’s armed forces.
The visit also highlighted the growing scope of India-Ethiopia defence cooperation. The two countries have maintained longstanding defence ties, with cooperation covering areas such as military training, capacity building and institutional exchanges. In October 2025, Ethiopia’s Director General for Defence Foreign Relations and Military Cooperation, Gen. Teshome Gemechu, visited New Delhi for the first-ever Joint Defence Cooperation meeting, marking an important milestone in bilateral defence relations. (Ministry of External Affairs)
India and Ethiopia also have broader cooperation in capacity building and human-resource development. Ethiopian security personnel have participated in specialised training programmes in India, including a forensic course at the National Forensic Science University, Gujarat, while Ethiopian officials have undertaken capacity-building programmes under India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) framework. (Ministry of External Affairs)
Beyond defence, India-Ethiopia relations encompass trade and investment, development partnership, education, healthcare, agriculture and capacity building. The two countries also engage closely through multilateral and India-Africa platforms.
The visit to the Military Academy underscores India’s focus on strengthening defence-to-defence engagement, professional exchanges and capacity building with Ethiopia, contributing to the broader India-Ethiopia strategic partnership.