SO, WHY DID TRUMP RECALL 13 AFRICAN AMBASSADORS?
Posted: 23 Dec 2025, 13:19
Yesterday, I said that Indo-Ethiopian strategic partnership has changed the geopolitics of Horn of Africa.
Actually, it is more than that.
As we speak, Ethiopia has almost strategic level relationships with the existing super-powers except the United States of America.
Ethiopia has always been closely related to Russia. We buy our most modern jets from Russia. Russia is helping us build a nuclear power plant. Russia hast its Sputnik Media HQ in Addis. We have a century old respectful relationship with Russia.
China has massive economic investment in Ethiopia. Every other month a new Chinese industry moves in. China is driving the massive construction boom of surging Ethiopia.
India the 4th super-power and soon to be the third largest world economy after China and USA, has just concluded a game changing strategic agreement with Ethiopia and through Ethiopia to becoming probably the second economic power in Africa. India is now the third largest economic investor in Ethiopia and soon they will take the second position.
In other words, Ethiopia is effectively partnering with the China, Russia, and India.
Where does USA stand?
America has never had a correct policy toward Ethiopia. America policy has always been a policy of domination and control and shifting loyalty.
US had supporting Somalia against Ethiopia. US had helped Ethiopia fracture into ethnic enclaves. US had supported Egypt against the vital interest of Ethiopia on Nile issues. America has never truly helped Ethiopia develop, modernize, be self-sufficient and be a nation that Ethiopia deserves to be.
The only exception is the long business tie with Boeing and EAL.
So, today America is visibly absent from the dizzying Ethiopia double digit growth. Just look two or years back. America was never a news in Ethiopia. Even Marco Rubio has not visited Ethiopia.
Now there is some talk about US companies interest in the construction of the 12.5 billion Bishoftu Mega air port.
In light this facts, what does it mean for Trump to recall the ambassador?
In my view, it is true that the America ambassador here in Addis has failed to advance America interest in Ethiopia and Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia is the most important anchor nation of the Horn, the gateway to Africa and the leader of African spirit and proud identity. America should have been Ethiopia's major strategic ally, should have help Ethiopia secure a sea access, build dams and help play critical security roles in the Red sea and Indian ocean. Instead, USA works with fragile, ineffective, destructive splinter entities and that effectively caused American visible decline in the Horn and Africa as a whole.
The following is Trump's core US policy. Let us see how this general policy translate itself into US-Ethiopian relations?
"The core tenets of Donald Trump's foreign policy, often referred to as
"America First", emphasize national sovereignty, bilateral negotiations over multilateral agreements, and a transactional approach to international relations based on outcomes rather than ideology.
Key tenets include:
• "America First" Ideology: Prioritizing American citizens, interests, and border security above all else. This includes a strong focus on limiting migration, which the policy frames as a primary element of national security.
• Skepticism of Alliances and Multilateralism: A preference for unilateral action and bilateral (country-to-country) deals, often accompanied by criticism of traditional alliances like NATO and international organizations such as the UN and the World Health Organization, which are seen as constraining U.S. power or being unfairly funded by the U.S.. The policy stresses that allies must contribute more financially to their own defense.
• Pragmatic, Transactional Diplomacy: Foreign policy decisions are based on a "principled realism" aimed at achieving specific, tangible outcomes and business deals rather than promoting democracy or human rights abroad. This has led to personalized diplomacy, including engagement with autocrats and dictators.
• Economic Nationalism: Using economic leverage, such as tariffs, to protect American industries and workers, address trade deficits (particularly with China), and bring manufacturing back to the U.S..
• Peace Through Strength: A focus on a significant military buildup and a strong nuclear deterrent to hold adversaries accountable and project American power.
• Focus on the Western Hemisphere: Reasserting and enforcing a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, aimed at ensuring U.S. preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and denying non-hemispheric competitors like China the ability to control key strategic assets or position forces.
In practice, this approach has resulted in actions such as withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Agreement on climate change, renegotiating NAFTA with the USMCA, brokering the Abraham Accords, and ordering military strikes against terrorist groups. "
Actually, it is more than that.
As we speak, Ethiopia has almost strategic level relationships with the existing super-powers except the United States of America.
Ethiopia has always been closely related to Russia. We buy our most modern jets from Russia. Russia is helping us build a nuclear power plant. Russia hast its Sputnik Media HQ in Addis. We have a century old respectful relationship with Russia.
China has massive economic investment in Ethiopia. Every other month a new Chinese industry moves in. China is driving the massive construction boom of surging Ethiopia.
India the 4th super-power and soon to be the third largest world economy after China and USA, has just concluded a game changing strategic agreement with Ethiopia and through Ethiopia to becoming probably the second economic power in Africa. India is now the third largest economic investor in Ethiopia and soon they will take the second position.
In other words, Ethiopia is effectively partnering with the China, Russia, and India.
Where does USA stand?
America has never had a correct policy toward Ethiopia. America policy has always been a policy of domination and control and shifting loyalty.
US had supporting Somalia against Ethiopia. US had helped Ethiopia fracture into ethnic enclaves. US had supported Egypt against the vital interest of Ethiopia on Nile issues. America has never truly helped Ethiopia develop, modernize, be self-sufficient and be a nation that Ethiopia deserves to be.
The only exception is the long business tie with Boeing and EAL.
So, today America is visibly absent from the dizzying Ethiopia double digit growth. Just look two or years back. America was never a news in Ethiopia. Even Marco Rubio has not visited Ethiopia.
Now there is some talk about US companies interest in the construction of the 12.5 billion Bishoftu Mega air port.
In light this facts, what does it mean for Trump to recall the ambassador?
In my view, it is true that the America ambassador here in Addis has failed to advance America interest in Ethiopia and Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia is the most important anchor nation of the Horn, the gateway to Africa and the leader of African spirit and proud identity. America should have been Ethiopia's major strategic ally, should have help Ethiopia secure a sea access, build dams and help play critical security roles in the Red sea and Indian ocean. Instead, USA works with fragile, ineffective, destructive splinter entities and that effectively caused American visible decline in the Horn and Africa as a whole.
The following is Trump's core US policy. Let us see how this general policy translate itself into US-Ethiopian relations?
"The core tenets of Donald Trump's foreign policy, often referred to as
"America First", emphasize national sovereignty, bilateral negotiations over multilateral agreements, and a transactional approach to international relations based on outcomes rather than ideology.
Key tenets include:
• "America First" Ideology: Prioritizing American citizens, interests, and border security above all else. This includes a strong focus on limiting migration, which the policy frames as a primary element of national security.
• Skepticism of Alliances and Multilateralism: A preference for unilateral action and bilateral (country-to-country) deals, often accompanied by criticism of traditional alliances like NATO and international organizations such as the UN and the World Health Organization, which are seen as constraining U.S. power or being unfairly funded by the U.S.. The policy stresses that allies must contribute more financially to their own defense.
• Pragmatic, Transactional Diplomacy: Foreign policy decisions are based on a "principled realism" aimed at achieving specific, tangible outcomes and business deals rather than promoting democracy or human rights abroad. This has led to personalized diplomacy, including engagement with autocrats and dictators.
• Economic Nationalism: Using economic leverage, such as tariffs, to protect American industries and workers, address trade deficits (particularly with China), and bring manufacturing back to the U.S..
• Peace Through Strength: A focus on a significant military buildup and a strong nuclear deterrent to hold adversaries accountable and project American power.
• Focus on the Western Hemisphere: Reasserting and enforcing a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, aimed at ensuring U.S. preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and denying non-hemispheric competitors like China the ability to control key strategic assets or position forces.
In practice, this approach has resulted in actions such as withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Agreement on climate change, renegotiating NAFTA with the USMCA, brokering the Abraham Accords, and ordering military strikes against terrorist groups. "
