Ethiopia is one of Serbia's strongest advocates in Africa when it comes to their position on the recognition of Kosovo.

[citation needed] The former state of Yugoslavia maintained diplomatic ties with Ethiopia and shared membership of the NAM bloc.

Josip Broz Tito granted Haile Selassie I the title of honorary citizen of the city of Belgrade.

[1] The first vessel of the Ethiopian Navy was a gift from Yugoslavia, and as a sign of thanks Marshal Tito was given a villa in Addis Ababa which is now the Serbian Embassy.

[2] In 2012, after travelling to Addis Ababa in order to reaffirm Ethiopia's stance on Kosovo regarding Serbia, Vuk Jeremić and Haile Mariam signed a memorandum of understanding between the two nations' ministries of foreign affairs.