President Donald J. Trump signaled that it is ready to restart mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to help resolve the issue of Nile River water sharing.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump posted a letter he’d penned for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“I am ready to restart US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the question of ‘The Nile Water Sharing’ once and for all,” he wrote.
The dispute between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan centers on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt fears there is an existential threats to its water supply, of which 97% comes from the Nile. Ethiopia asserts that it has a sovereign right to develop resources, saying the dam offers mutual benefits like flood control.
“Ethiopia presents the GERD as a developmental milestone aimed at poverty reduction and energy self-sufficiency,” the Atlantic Council explains. “For Egypt and Sudan, however, the project’s unilateral management represents an existential risk.”
In his letter, Trump wrote:
“I thank you for your leadership in successfully mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. I recognize and admire your steady role in managing the many security and humanitarian challenges that have faced this region, and your own people, since October 7, 2023. This war has weighed heavily on Egyptians, not just their neighbors, in Israel and Gaza.
“In the spirit of our personal friendship and America’s commitment to peace and the well-being of Egypt’s people, I am ready to restart U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the question of “The Nile Water Sharing” once and for all. My team and I understand the deep significance of the Nile River to Egypt and its people, and I want to help you achieve an outcome that assures the water needs of Egypt, the Republic of the Sudan, and Ethiopia, long into the future. The United States affirms that no state in this region should unilaterally control the precious resources of the Nile, and disadvantage its neighbors in the process.
“I believe that with the right technical expertise, fair and transparent negotiations, and a strong United States role in monitoring and coordinating between parties, we can achieve a lasting agreement for all Nile Basin Nations. A successful approach will guarantee predictable water releases during droughts and prolonged dry years for Egypt and the Sudan, while allowing Ethiopia to generate very substantial amounts of electricity, perhaps some of which can be given, or sold, to Egypt and/or the Sudan.
“Thank you once again for the friendship and partnership you have provided to me and to the people of the United States. Resolving the tensions around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is at the very top of my agenda, as I work for lasting peace in the Middle East and Africa.
“I very much hope that this truly understandable dispute over the GERD (DAM!) will not lead to major Military conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia.”
