The two days visit to the Horn of Africa by the Italian Minister of Defense, Elisabetta Trenta, was concluded on 10 April 2019. The Minister visited Ethiopia, the Republic of Djibouti and the Federal Republic of Somalia.
During her visit to Ethiopia, accompanied by the Chief of Defense Staff, the Minister signed with her counterpart, Defense Minister Aisha Mohammed, the bilateral defense cooperation agreement, a historic agreement which inaugurates a new phase of bilateral relations between Italy and Ethiopia. The Agreement establishes a framework within which to develop new and greater initiatives in the field of security and defense in areas of common interest such as training; peace-keeping operations (in which both Ethiopia and Italy share a leadership role); the fight against terrorism and violent extremism; military research and development and defense industry collaboration.
Minister Trenta also met the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr. Markos Tekle, for an exchange of views on the excellent state of bilateral relations and on cooperation for the promotion of peace and stability in the entire region of the Horn of Africa. Minister Trenta expressed her appreciation, and also the support of the Italian Government, for the reform path undertaken by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
