Egypt Daily News – President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has welcomed recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the long-standing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), voicing appreciation for Washington’s renewed engagement in seeking a peaceful resolution to one of Africa’s most pressing water conflicts.
In a statement posted Tuesday on his official account on X (formerly Twitter), President Sisi said:
“Egypt appreciates President Donald Trump’s statements, which demonstrate the seriousness of the United States under his leadership in exerting efforts to settle disputes and stop wars.”
He added that Egypt remains confident in Trump’s ability to resolve complex global issues and promote peace and stability: “Whether in Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, or across Africa, we trust President Trump’s vision in fostering global security.”
President Sisi also emphasized the significance of the Nile to Egypt’s national survival, noting:
“Egypt values President Trump’s commitment to reaching a fair agreement that preserves the interests of all parties regarding the Ethiopian dam and appreciates his recognition of the Nile as a source of life for the Egyptian people.”
Trump’s Comments Spark Renewed Focus on GERD
Trump’s comments came during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Monday, where he unexpectedly addressed the Nile dam crisis. He suggested that the United States had played a role in financing the dam and stressed the importance of resolving the tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia.
“We’ve worked on the file concerning Egypt and a nearby neighbor Ethiopia,” Trump said. “They are good neighbors and friends of mine, but they built the dam, which ended up cutting off the flow of water into what’s known as the Nile.”
The former U.S. president added, “If I were Egypt, I’d want to have water in the Nile. We’re working on solving this problem it will be solved. They built one of the largest dams in the world just a short distance from Egypt. Apparently, the U.S. funded the dam, I’m not sure why the issue wasn’t resolved before it was built.”
Expert Commentary: U.S. Position Aligns with Egyptian Interests
Commenting on Trump’s remarks, Dr. Abbas Sharaky, a professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, said the former president appears eager to position himself as a global peacemaker and reaffirmed his understanding of Egypt’s concerns.
Speaking in a televised interview, Sharaky noted, “Trump emphasized the importance of the Nile for Egypt, which reflects support for Egypt’s stance on the GERD dispute.” He added that Trump’s call for solutions is a positive signal, and that “any additional dams built on the Nile to store water could severely affect Egypt’s share of the river.”
A Stalled Dispute with Regional Implications
The GERD dispute has remained unresolved for over a decade, with negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan repeatedly stalling. Egypt and Sudan fear the massive dam constructed on the Blue Nile, Ethiopia’s primary tributary of the Nile River, will significantly reduce their access to vital water resources. Ethiopia, on the other hand, insists on its sovereign right to develop and utilize its natural resources for electricity generation and economic development.
While international mediation efforts have come and gone with limited success, Trump’s renewed interest in the matter may signal a new chapter in global diplomatic involvement.
