Ethiopia and Kenya share a longstanding and multifaceted relationship characterized by cooperation in areas such as defense, energy, infrastructure, trade, and regional diplomacy. This partnership, while pragmatic and evolving, has yet to be formalized into a comprehensive, long-term strategic framework.

The bilateral ties between Ethiopia and Kenya date back to the early 1960s, with the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a defense agreement in 1964. Over the decades, cooperation has expanded to include joint infrastructure projects, such as the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, and collaborative efforts in regional peacekeeping and security initiatives.

A significant aspect of their partnership is energy cooperation. Ethiopia exports electricity to Kenya, including power generated from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This energy trade supports Kenya’s industrial growth and enhances regional energy security. Joint infrastructure initiatives further facilitate economic exchange and cross-border integration, allowing both nations to leverage each other’s geographic advantages – Ethiopia as a landlocked economy, and Kenya as a gateway to maritime routes.

Trade and private-sector linkages have also grown steadily. Kenya exports manufactured goods, agricultural products, and services to Ethiopia, while Ethiopian products, including coffee and livestock, reach Kenyan markets. There are emerging opportunities for joint investment in logistics, manufacturing, and technology, though these remain largely underdeveloped compared to state-led infrastructure and energy initiatives.

Security cooperation has deepened in recent years. The 2025 Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), the second of its kind in 62 years, formalizes intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, border security coordination, counter-terrorism initiatives, and defense industry collaboration. Kenya’s Ministry of Defence described the DCA as enabling “intelligence sharing of security threats and collaboration on joint exercises and training.” Beyond the bilateral level, both countries participate in broader regional security initiatives under the African Union and IGAD, including efforts to stabilize Somalia and combat violent extremism in the Horn of Africa.

In the realm of regional diplomacy, President William Ruto’s attendance at the GERD inauguration in September 2025 underscored Kenya’s support for Ethiopia’s development initiatives. During the ceremony, President Ruto praised the GERD as a symbol of Africa’s self-reliance and progress, emphasizing the importance of equitable and sustainable utilization of shared resources. He also expressed Kenya’s willingness to mediate in the ongoing Nile dam dispute, highlighting Kenya’s role as a neutral party capable of facilitating dialogue among stakeholders – a development that has drawn cautious attention from Egypt, which continues to monitor the project’s downstream implications.

Ethiopia’s aspiration for maritime access has added a further dimension to bilateral and regional dynamics. While it presents opportunities for Ethiopia to expand its trade routes, it also requires careful coordination with Kenya and other regional stakeholders to ensure stability and avoid tensions with neighboring countries, such as Somalia. Kenya has been supportive beyond offering access through Lamu Port; it has also backed Ethiopia’s quest for secure and reliable maritime access, signaling a willingness to facilitate broader regional trade solutions and strengthen economic integration. People-to-people and cultural ties, while less emphasized than formal state-to-state agreements, also play a role in strengthening bilateral relations. Academic exchanges, tourism, and professional collaborations foster mutual understanding and provide a social foundation that complements governmental cooperation.

Despite these collaborative efforts, several challenges remain. Political differences, particularly regarding governance structures and regional priorities, can affect how the two countries coordinate. Kenya operates a devolved multiparty democracy, with power distributed across national and county governments and a strong emphasis on political pluralism, while Ethiopia continues to implement centralized reforms under a different political system. These structural differences can make joint decision-making and policy alignment across sectors more complex. While Ethiopia mainly focuses on integrating its Horn of Africa neighbors, Kenya’s regional priorities extend across the broader East African Community, maritime interests, and involvement in regional security initiatives. These differences underscore the importance of mechanisms that facilitate structured dialogue and coordination to ensure ongoing cooperation across political and institutional lines.

Given the existing cooperation and shared interests, observers may ask whether the Ethiopia–Kenya relationship could evolve into a more structured, resilient partnership – an “all-weather” strategic alliance. Such a partnership would build on existing achievements, including energy integration, joint infrastructure projects, defense agreements, trade, and people-to-people linkages, while introducing mechanisms for multi-sector coordination, high-level diplomatic alignment, and sustained societal and economic collaboration. Lessons can be drawn from Ethiopia’s “all-weather” partnership with China, which integrates investment, infrastructure, and diplomatic alignment, but any Kenya-Ethiopia framework would need to consider the region’s unique dynamics and the pragmatic foundations of their bilateral relationship.

Even incremental steps – such as pilot projects, sectoral working groups, or enhanced coordination on regional issues – can lay the groundwork for deeper engagement. The 2025 Defense Cooperation Agreement demonstrates how codified collaboration in one sector can serve as a model for broader institutionalization. Kenya and Ethiopia already share significant geographic, economic, and political linkages. Formalizing an “all-weather” strategic partnership does not aim to transform relations overnight but seeks to manage and strengthen them more effectively. In a region facing increasing uncertainty, a carefully institutionalized partnership could enhance stability, shared growth, and resilience, providing both countries with a reliable framework to address common challenges over the long term.

By Horn Review Editorial