Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed invites BRICS leaders to COP32 in Ethiopia, urging stronger climate cooperation and equitable global financial representation.
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed extended an official invitation to leaders of the BRICS bloc to attend the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32), which Ethiopia is scheduled to host in 2027, while urging member states to strengthen joint cooperation on global climate action.
Addressing the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, Prime Minister Abiy stated that Ethiopia expects to receive over 80,000 delegates for the COP32 summit. He called on BRICS nations to extend full backing to ensure the high-level gathering serves as an inclusive driver for sustainable development. During his plenary address, the Prime Minister advocated for equitable African representation within global financial and trade architectures and formally requested that the New Development Bank (NDB)—formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank—establish a regional branch in Addis Ababa to scale its operational reach across the continent.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Abiy held high-level discussions with multiple world leaders to expand economic, defense, and strategic partnerships. In meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, talks centered on deepening bilateral cooperation in defense technologies, investment frameworks, and nuclear energy development.
The Prime Minister also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to review regional security dynamics, emphasizing the critical role of constructive diplomatic dialogue across the Red Sea corridor.
Asserting Ethiopia’s readiness to host the NDB’s regional headquarters, Prime Minister Abiy noted that establishing a presence in Addis Ababa would significantly enhance the bank’s development financing footprint across Africa. The expanded BRICS coalition now encompasses eleven member states, operating alongside existing geopolitical friction points—including diplomatic tensions between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as unresolved negotiations between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Despite these regional complexities, the summit concluded with BRICS member states endorsing Ethiopia’s ongoing accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and pledging continued technical support across key development sectors.
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