Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Senior Egyptian and American officials held wide-ranging talks in Cairo on Sunday covering the war in Gaza, instability in Sudan, tensions in the Horn of Africa, and Egypt’s long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), following a message from US President Donald Trump expressing readiness to resume American mediation on Nile water-sharing.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Christopher Landau, the US Deputy Secretary of State, as part of ongoing consultations between the two countries amid heightened regional volatility. According to an official statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the discussions reflected what both sides described as the depth of the strategic partnership between Cairo and Washington and their close coordination on regional crises.
The situation in Gaza featured prominently in the talks. Abdelatty welcomed Egypt’s participation in the newly formed Peace Council and praised the role played by President Trump in securing the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement, which laid the groundwork for de-escalation efforts. He stressed the importance of moving forward with the second phase of the US-backed plan for Gaza, including support for a national committee to administer the territory, the rapid deployment of an international stabilization force to monitor the ceasefire, the reopening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The two officials also discussed developments in Sudan, where Abdelatty underscored the urgency of reaching a humanitarian truce, establishing safe corridors and shelters for civilians, and paving the way for a comprehensive ceasefire. He reiterated Egypt’s support for a Sudanese-led political process and Cairo’s firm position in favor of preserving Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as safeguarding its national institutions.
Turning to the Horn of Africa, the Egyptian foreign minister warned against any international recognition of what he referred to as “so-called Somaliland,” arguing that such a move would violate international law, undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial unity, and threaten stability in the region. He cautioned that further escalation could have serious repercussions for security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, a vital global trade route.
Water security and the Nile dispute were another central focus of the meeting. Abdelatty welcomed President Trump’s recent message to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which expressed appreciation for Egypt’s regional role and signaled Washington’s willingness to help revive negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia over the GERD. He emphasized that the Nile is a lifeline for Egypt, a country facing severe water scarcity, and reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to cooperation with Nile Basin states in accordance with international law and principles of mutual benefit, while firmly rejecting unilateral actions. His remarks were widely understood as a reference to Ethiopia’s continued unilateral filling and operation of the dam on the Blue Nile.
Earlier, President Trump announced his readiness to reengage in mediation efforts between Egypt and Ethiopia, stating in a letter to President El-Sisi that the United States was prepared to help reach a “responsible and final” solution to the Nile water-sharing dispute. Trump published the message on his social media platform, Truth Social, framing the offer as part of America’s commitment to peace and the well-being of the Egyptian people.
In response, President El-Sisi publicly welcomed Trump’s stance, expressing appreciation for his recognition of the centrality of the Nile issue to Egypt’s national security. He reiterated that Egypt’s position is based on cooperation, respect for international law, and the pursuit of shared interests without causing harm to any party.
The issue has remained a major source of tension between Cairo and Addis Ababa for more than a decade, with Egypt viewing the GERD as an existential threat, while Ethiopia considers it a cornerstone of its development strategy. Previous rounds of negotiations, including US-led mediation during Trump’s earlier term, failed to produce a binding agreement.
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump described US-Egypt relations as “great” and said they had been strong from the outset. Commenting on the Nile dispute, he criticized the sudden restriction of water flows caused by the massive dam and suggested that renewed American engagement could help bring the two sides together in search of a negotiated settlement.
The Cairo talks underscored the continued centrality of Egypt in US regional policy, as well as the complex interlinking of security, humanitarian, and geopolitical challenges facing the Middle East and Africa.
