[Spain]: Message for Ethiopia

[Zak]

Government of Spain
Security Classification: ENCRYPTED​

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Dear Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,

On behalf of the Spanish Government, I would like to congratulate your government on the recent news with the State of Eritrea regarding the bilateral recognition of the mutual border between both of your countries. The Kingdom of Spain is looking to deploy an amphibious assault ship-aircraft carrier on its maiden voyage within the next two months supported by two frigates and a replenishment vessel to the Red Sea which will allow hundreds of personnel within the Spanish Navy to train on these new and highly advanced vessels and gain multiple skills whilst promoting security in the region. The region is notorious for piracy and we would like to undertake a maritime operation and we would also like to make a port call in your country if operational requirements will allow us to do so.

Regards,
Margarita Robles
Minister of Defence
Kingdom of Spain

Naio90

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[Naio90]

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia የኢትዮጵያ ፌዴራላዊ ዴሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ Message from the Ministry of Defence _________________________________________________________________________​

Status: Private To: Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence, Kingdom of Spain Zak Re: ​

We thank you for your kind words. Indeed the re-acquisition of the access to international waters is a matter of strategic importance of us and will allow for our trade and exports to grow exponentially. Regarding your request, while the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia mantains a policy of neutrality in regards of international conflicts and general issues, we understand that the providing of operational services to foreign military vessels currently on training schedules is acceptable. Furthermore, potential anti-piracy operations can be openly supported by Ethiopia as long as they are not openly run by any foreign State, which should be the case for the groups currently existing in the region of the Horn of Africa. Please let us know in advance if you are planning to enter into ethiopian territorial waters and to use the port of Asseb for the previously mentioned affairs, as to have the proper space cleared and service providers ready. Respectfully,​ Abraham Belay Minister of Defense Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Addis Ababa​