Why is Ethiopia aligning with international economic organizations across divergent global orders? Why has it chosen to join BRICS, a coalition of emerging economies often seen as counterbalancing Western dominance, while simultaneously seeking accession to the WTO, a symbol of Western-aligned trade liberalization? Ethiopia’s foreign policy approach toward international cooperation and alignment challenges standard theories in international relations, such as balancing, hedging, and bandwagoning. Instead, Ethiopia’s strategy reflects a distinctive model of dual alignment, where it sincerely engages with both Western and non-Western institutions as an equal and committed partner. This thesis investigates the underlying factors that have shaped Ethiopia’s unique position as a collaborator and friend to diverse global actors. By using novel interview data with UN diplomats, as well as archival research and process tracing, it examines how historical identity constructions, rooted in Ethiopia’s legacy of sovereignty and regional influence, and contemporary domestic political actors have contributed to its open, multipolar foreign policy. By exploring Ethiopia’s alignment strategy, this research seeks to illuminate a new category of international cooperation for emerging economies navigating a multipolar world—one that blends pragmatic partnerships with deep-seated values of inclusivity, autonomy, and a commitment to fostering relationships across ideological divides.