US Offers to Resume Mediation Between Egypt and Ethiopia Over Nile Water Dispute

US President Donald Trump has offered to revive mediation efforts between Egypt and Ethiopia over their long-running dispute concerning the use of Nile River waters.

In a letter addressed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Trump said the move reflects Washington’s continued commitment to regional stability, while also highlighting what he described as his close personal relationship with the Egyptian leader.

Trump also praised Sisi’s role in facilitating what he called a “successful” ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, noting Egypt’s importance as a key regional actor.

The renewed offer of US mediation comes years after Washington-led talks collapsed in 2020, when Ethiopia withdrew from negotiations during Trump’s first term. Although discussions later resumed under the African Union’s framework, no comprehensive agreement has been reached.

Tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa escalated further last year when Ethiopia formally inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The massive hydroelectric project, located on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, is Africa’s largest dam and is expected to generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity, effectively doubling Ethiopia’s power capacity.

Ethiopia views the $5 billion dam as critical to its economic development and energy security. However, Egypt has consistently opposed the project, warning that it could significantly reduce downstream water flows. The Nile supplies almost all of Egypt’s freshwater needs and is vital to sustaining agriculture and a population exceeding 100 million.

Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country with over 120 million people, insists the dam will not cause harm to downstream nations and rejects claims that it violates international agreements.

Egypt, however, maintains that GERD poses serious risks, including potential droughts and flooding, and continues to call for a legally binding agreement governing the dam’s operation and filling.

Whether renewed US mediation can bridge the deep divisions between the two countries remains uncertain.