Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has projected a minimum economic growth of 10.3% for the current year while warning that such prosperity is worthless without a balanced security force to protect it. Using the "ten doors" analogy, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces PM Abiy explained that if a house has nine doors closed but even one is left open, the closing of the others is in vain and the home remains vulnerable to attack. He further characterized the relationship between citizens and the state through a maternal metaphor, stating that Ethiopia is the only true mother and that foreign powers act as "stepmothers" who may provide a few mouthfuls of food but will eventually tire of the burden. He asserted that Ethiopia does not seek the interests of others but will not hand over its own through naivety. Addressing both allies and adversaries, he stated that while the doors are open for cooperation, they are "closed in black" for those who seek to obstruct Ethiopia’s strategic interests, concluding that if any of Ethiopia's interests have been taken in the past, the nation will not stop until the account is settled.