US President Donald Trump has told Egypt he is ready to resume diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving long-standing tensions with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that has alarmed Cairo due to fears it could reduce the flow of the Nile.
In a letter shared on social media by the White House, Trump offered his personal mediation to “responsibly resolve the question of 'The Nile Water Sharing' once and for all.”
Trump praised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, highlighting his role as an ally and noting his contribution in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza. "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," Trump wrote.
He emphasized that no nation should have exclusive control over the Nile’s waters at the expense of its neighbors, adding that the GERD would be "at the very top of my agenda."
He also expressed hope for a solution that would guarantee a reliable water supply for Egypt and Sudan while allowing Ethiopia to either sell or share electricity generated by the dam with downstream countries.
The GERD, Africa's largest hydropower facility, was inaugurated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in September 2025 after a $4 billion investment. The dam is expected to more than double Ethiopia’s current electricity production and is a source of national pride.
Cairo views the dam as a serious threat to its survival, with Egypt relying on the Nile for 97 percent of its water. Past mediation attempts by the United States, the World Bank, Russia, and the African Union have failed to produce an agreement acceptable to all parties over the past decade.
During his first term, Trump had issued warnings that startled both countries, suggesting Egypt might consider military action against the dam. At the time, both Egypt and Ethiopia summoned the US ambassador for clarification, and Ethiopia vowed to resist any attack.
The Nile River, spanning 6,650 kilometers, flows through 11 countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. Egypt and Sudan, situated at the lower end of the Nile Basin, receive the least rainfall among the Nile states and are heavily dependent on the river.
Egypt is grappling with a severe water scarcity crisis, compounded by climate change, with over 90 percent of its water needs supplied by the Nile. Ethiopia maintains that the GERD is essential for energy self-sufficiency and economic growth, asserting its right to utilize the river for national development.
