US President Proposes Restart of Talks on Nile Waters

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Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a renewed American diplomatic push to resolve the protracted dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the sharing of Nile River waters, according to letters and official statements released this week.

 In a letter dated January 16 and addressed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Trump expressed his readiness to restart U.S.-led mediation efforts aimed at forging a durable agreement on equitable water distribution from the Nile, a lifeline for millions across north-east Africa. The letter was also shared publicly on Trump’s social media platform.

 Trump reiterated Washington’s long-standing position that no single state should exert unilateral control over Nile waters, emphasizing the river’s “deep significance” to Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia alike. He framed the mediation as grounded in “fair and transparent negotiations” and technical expertise that could balance downstream water security with Ethiopia’s developmental needs.

 At the heart of the dispute is Ethiopia’s massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. Officially inaugurated in 2025, the $5-billion project is seen by Addis Ababa as a cornerstone of its economic growth, particularly for power generation. Cairo, however, has long warned that the dam could diminish its critical share of Nile water and has repeatedly sought binding guarantees on water flow and drought-year releases.

 Previous U.S.-led mediation efforts, including those during Trump’s first presidential term, produced intermittent talks but ultimately stalled after Ethiopia withdrew from talks in 2020. African Union and other international efforts continued thereafter without a final resolution.

 In his message to al-Sisi, Trump also expressed gratitude for Egypt’s role in brokering a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, tying broader regional stability to the urgency of settling the Nile water dispute. Washington’s renewed engagement is seen as part of a broader push to reassert U.S. diplomatic influence in Africa and the Middle East.

 Responses from Cairo and Addis Ababa to Trump’s proposal have not yet been formally announced. Observers say the success of any renewed mediation will hinge on both sides’ willingness to compromise and agree to technical, legal, and monitoring mechanisms acceptable to all Nile Basin states.