US President Donald Trump has offered to restart US-led mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). In a letter to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Trump described the situation as “truly understandable” but warned against the risk of military confrontation. The president expressed his commitment to resolving tensions around the GERD, linking it to his broader push for “lasting peace in the Middle East and Africa.”
Trump’s letter emphasized the significance of the Nile River to Egypt and its people, stating that his team understands the deep importance of the water resource. He also stressed that no state in the region should unilaterally control the Nile’s precious resources, disadvantageing its neighbors. The US position is that an outcome must secure the long-term water needs of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
According to Trump, a deal is achievable through “the right technical expertise, fair and transparent negotiations, and a strong United States role in monitoring and coordinating between parties.” He believes an agreement could guarantee predictable water releases during droughts and dry years for Egypt and Sudan, while allowing Ethiopia to generate substantial amounts of electricity, some of which could be sold to its neighbors.
The letter reflects Trump’s concern that the GERD matter could escalate into open conflict, stating, “I very much hope that this truly understandable dispute over the GERD will not lead to major military conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia.” The letter was copied to several regional leaders, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, 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.
The US has been involved in negotiations over the GERD since 2019, with a renewed round of dialogue convened in Washington, D.C. following a meeting between Egyptian and Ethiopian leaders in Sochi. Despite early momentum, the US-facilitated process reached an impasse, with Egypt accused of halting progress on talks over the filling and operation of the GERD.
After years of stalled diplomacy, talks were formally rebooted in July 2023, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met in Cairo. However, the renewed diplomatic push failed to yield a breakthrough, with Egypt announcing its withdrawal from the GERD negotiations in August 2024, citing a lack of clear regulations governing dam operations and no binding legal mechanism for dispute resolution.
The situation remains unresolved, with Ethiopia having formally inaugurated the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in September 2025. The US offer to restart mediation comes as tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia continue to simmer, with significant implications for regional stability and the future of the Nile’s water resources.
