The US President, Donald Trump, has offered to restart mediation to resolve the longstanding dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over sharing the waters of the Nile River.
On Friday, January 16, Trump published an official letter addressed to the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, expressing readiness to “restart US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the question of ‘The Nile Water Sharing’ once and for all.”
Top Priority
Trump noted that resolving the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has become a top priority for him. “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,” he wrote.
Moreover, he voiced hope that this dispute would not escalate into “major Military conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia.”
Efforts to mediate the dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the Nile saw a significant phase during the first Trump administration, though these talks stalled in 2020 following Ethiopia’s withdrawal.
While the African Union (AU) later assumed a facilitatory role, a comprehensive trilateral agreement has remained elusive, according to the Associated Press (AP).
GERD Dispute
In September 2025, Ethiopia officially inaugurated the GERD. Situated on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, the project stands as Africa’s largest hydroelectric installation.
With a projected output exceeding 5,000 megawatts, the dam is designed to double Ethiopia’s domestic electricity capacity and serve as a primary engine for national economic development.
However, the project remains a point of regional contention, reflecting a fundamental disagreement over the use of the Nile’s resources.
Egypt remains steadfast in its opposition to the project for violating international treaties, emphasizing that any potential reduction in its historical share of Nile waters poses a direct risk to its agricultural sector and the essential water security of its population, which exceeds 100 million.
Meanwhile Ethiopia maintains that the dam is vital for its economic development.
Safeguarding Shared Nile Resources
Trump said that he and his administration recognize the importance of the Nile River to Egypt and its people. “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,” he wrote.
Moreover, the US President reaffirmed that “no state in this region should unilaterally control the precious resources of the Nile, and disadvantage its neighbors in the process.”
US Approach
In the letter, Trump noted that achieving a durable agreement for all Nile Basin nations requires a combination of technical expertise, transparent diplomacy, and steadfast US oversight.
He added that long-term stability and mutual prosperity can be achieved by guaranteeing predictable water releases for downstream countries during droughts and facilitating Ethiopia’s transition into a regional power exporter.
Furthermore, Trump appreciated Al-Sisi’s role in “successfully mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas” and “managing the many security and humanitarian challenges that have faced this region” and the Egyptian people since October 7, 2023.
Copies of Trump’s letter were sent to several regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
