Belem (KAAB TV) – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, on the sidelines of COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 22, 2025.
“Met with Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for exchanges on the need to take forward the strong and longstanding bilateral relations between our two countries,” the Ethiopian premier wrote on X.
Although both leaders attended COP30, there has been no confirmation of an official bilateral meeting between the two prime ministers beyond these brief exchanges.
The UK has expressed interest in supporting Ethiopia’s reform agenda, institutional development, and regional security efforts, and such engagements are seen as important in bolstering the relationship between the two nations.
In recent years, however, the UK has raised significant concerns regarding human rights abuses, political repression, and the humanitarian consequences of armed conflict—particularly in relation to the Tigray crisis.
While the UK has historically been a major development partner, political tensions have strained relations, prompting London to call for improved humanitarian access and accountability.
Despite these challenges, diplomatic efforts have continued. Notably, the first Ethiopia–UK political dialogue in March 2025 sought to stabilize relations by focusing on areas of shared interest.
Climate change remains a major issue for Ethiopia. Rising temperatures, more frequent and severe droughts and floods, and increasingly unpredictable rainy seasons continue to pose serious threats.
These impacts undermine agriculture, water resources, and public health—fueling food insecurity, damaging infrastructure, and displacing communities. Additional climate-related challenges, such as soil erosion and pest infestations, further exacerbate vulnerabilities.
The cumulative effects of climate change are a key driver of persistent food insecurity, affecting millions of Ethiopians and deepening cycles of poverty.