Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi welcomed a letter from US President Donald Trump on Saturday offering to relaunch American mediation in the long-running dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), reaffirming Cairo’s commitment to cooperation while stressing that the Nile is the lifeline of the Egyptian people.
In a statement, Al-Sisi said he appreciated Trump’s efforts to promote peace and stability at the regional and international levels, as well as his recognition of Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting regional security. He reiterated Egypt’s commitment to serious and constructive cooperation with Nile Basin countries, in accordance with international law and the principle of not causing significant harm, in a manner that safeguards shared interests.
The president said he had sent a reply to Trump expressing his thanks and appreciation, reaffirming Egypt’s position and concerns regarding water security, voicing support for US mediation efforts, and expressing his aspiration to maintain close coordination with Washington in the coming phase.
Sudan also voiced support for the US initiative. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, said Khartoum welcomes and supports Trump’s mediation on Nile waters, describing it as an effort to reach sustainable and mutually satisfactory solutions that preserve the rights of all parties and contribute to long-term security and stability in the region.
In his letter, dated January 16 and addressed to Al-Sisi, Trump said he was ready to resume US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to “responsibly resolve” the dispute over Nile water sharing. He warned that tensions surrounding the dam should not escalate into military conflict, expressing hope that the disagreement would be settled through negotiation.
Trump said Washington understands the deep significance of the Nile River to Egypt and its people, stressing that no state should unilaterally control the river’s resources to the detriment of its neighbours. He added that with fair and transparent negotiations, technical expertise, and a strong US role in monitoring and coordination, a lasting agreement among Nile Basin countries was achievable.
According to the letter, Trump said any agreement should guarantee predictable water releases during droughts and prolonged dry periods for Egypt and Sudan, while allowing Ethiopia to generate substantial electricity from the dam.
Egypt, home to around 108 million people, depends on the Nile for approximately 90% of its freshwater needs. President Al-Sisi cautioned in August 2025 that “anyone who believes Egypt will turn a blind eye to threats to its water security is mistaken.”
Sudan has similarly called for a binding legal framework governing the dam’s operation, although it could benefit from flood regulation and access to cheaper electricity. Ethiopia, meanwhile, maintains that the GERD is a sovereign right and a regional development opportunity, and has continued filling the dam’s reservoir since 2020.
