The U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls announced the lifting of blanket restrictions on the export of military equipment to Ethiopian security forces under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Addis Standard reported on May 14. The directorate noted that it would review applications for defense exports to the country on a case-by-case basis.

The lifting of arms restrictions on Ethiopia comes as the U.S. Trump administration is seeking to mediate heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea and is reportedly looking to lift sanctions on the latter. In September 2021, former U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order authorizing sanctions against individuals responsible for prolonging the Tigray war, followed by the imposition of arms export restrictions to Ethiopia and Eritrea in November 2021. While the September 2021 framework was not used to sanction Ethiopian officials, it was extended in 2023 and 2025.