Addis Ababa / Keyir News
CGTN Africa has reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week asked Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to consider contributing troops to a proposed International Security Force for Gaza, citing two Western diplomats familiar with the matter.
According to the diplomats, who spoke to The Times of Israel, the request was made as part of ongoing international discussions on post-conflict security arrangements in Gaza. The proposed force is reportedly intended to help stabilize the territory amid continuing conflict and humanitarian concerns.
Neither the Ethiopian government nor the US State Department has publicly confirmed the discussions. Ethiopian officials have so far made no official statement regarding the reported request or Ethiopia’s potential role in such a mission.
Ethiopia has a long history of participation in international peacekeeping operations, particularly in Africa, and is one of the largest troop-contributing countries to United Nations missions. However, the prospect of deploying Ethiopian forces outside the continent—especially to the Middle East—would represent a significant policy decision with regional, political, and security implications.
For Ethiopian and diaspora audiences, the report has sparked questions about Ethiopia’s foreign policy priorities at a time when the country continues to face domestic security challenges and post-conflict recovery efforts.
Analysts note that any Ethiopian involvement would likely depend on parliamentary approval, regional consensus, and the mandate of the proposed force. Discussions on the formation of an international security mechanism for Gaza remain ongoing.
