US President Donald Trump pledged to resume mediation of the long-standing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday.
He described the project as a “dangerous” issue that has effectively blocked the Nile River.
Speaking during the meeting with Al-Sisi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stated he would seek to bring Egyptian and Ethiopian leadership together to reach a settlement. “I’m going to try bringing the two of you together, see if we can make a deal,” Trump said, adding that he intended to “get that back on track” after previous mediation efforts during his first term were not concluded.
Trump characterised the dam as “massive” and noted it was financed by the United States, asserting that “somebody’s not getting the water that they are supposed to get.” President Al-Sisi thanked Trump for his support on what he described as an “existential issue” for Egypt, noting that US involvement could open “new horizons” for a breakthrough.
During the exchange, Al-Sisi also provided a strong endorsement of Trump’s role in regional diplomacy, specifically regarding the conflict in Gaza. “I said it before, I reiterate it now… but for President Trump, we wouldn’t have reached an agreement on Gaza,” Al-Sisi told reporters. The Egyptian leader urged the full implementation of the “second phase” of the Gaza plan and announced the formation of a National Palestinian Committee to manage the territory.
Al-Sisi further confirmed that Egypt has accepted an invitation to join the “Board of Peace” — also referred to as the “Council of Peace” — to back efforts to settle global and regional conflicts. The board is expected to oversee the administration of Palestinian technocrats and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
On regional security, the two leaders discussed joint efforts to end the war in Sudan within the framework of the “Quartet.” Al-Sisi welcomed American efforts in the file, emphaAl-Sising the necessity of an immediate humanitarian truce to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. Regarding Lebanon, Al-Sisi stressed the importance of the US role in halting sovereignty violations to allow Lebanese state institutions to exercise authority over the entirety of their territory.
The discussions also touched upon bilateral economic ties, with Al-Sisi expressing a desire to upgrade the relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” He proposed hosting the second session of the Egyptian-American Economic Forum during 2026.
Trump praised Al-Sisi as a “great leader” and “strong guy,” noting the long-standing relationship between the two men. He also reflected on his first term, claiming he was “pretty close to a deal” on the dam before leaving office.
The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and the Director of the General Intelligence Service, Hassan Rashad. The American delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy for the Middle East.
