U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), arguing that the project negatively affects Egypt’s share of Nile River water. He also claimed that he had resolved the issue, without providing details about the solution he referred to or disclosing any related diplomatic efforts.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday evening, Trump said Ethiopia had built a massive dam that ranks among the largest in the world. He claimed that the United States had helped finance the project before describing the funding as “stupid.”
“They took all the water from the Nile River, and that’s not good at all for Egypt. The Nile River has become almost completely dry, but I managed to solve this problem,” Trump said.
The U.S. president did not explain what he meant by resolving the issue or clarify whether he was referring to a specific agreement or a new diplomatic initiative concerning the ongoing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the dam’s filling and operation.
Trump Criticizes GERD After Previous Mediation Efforts
This is not the first time Trump has criticized Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. During his first term, his administration participated in mediation efforts involving Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan aimed at reaching an agreement governing the filling and operation of the dam’s reservoir.
Washington hosted rounds of negotiations involving the three countries, with the United States and the World Bank participating as observers. In 2020, the U.S. administration announced a draft agreement based on proposals from the technical and legal teams of the countries concerned, saying it addressed outstanding issues in a balanced manner.
However, negotiations stalled after Ethiopia requested additional time for internal consultations and rejected the suggestion that the talks had produced an agreement. Ethiopia also did not participate in the final meeting preceding Washington’s announcement of its position on the draft.
Egypt Insists on a Legally Binding GERD Agreement
Egypt, meanwhile, continues to insist on a legally binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Cairo says such an agreement must take into account the interests of downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, and establish clear mechanisms for dealing with periods of drought and prolonged drought.
Egypt has also emphasized the importance of establishing rules for data sharing and coordination among the three countries to help manage water resources and reduce potential risks.
Cairo has repeatedly warned that operating the dam unilaterally without a binding agreement remains a concern for its water security, given the country’s heavy reliance on the Nile River.
Trump’s latest remarks about having resolved the dispute are likely to draw attention as observers await clarification on whether he was referring to a new U.S. initiative or diplomatic efforts that could help settle the long-running disagreement between Cairo and Addis Ababa.
