Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
“I appreciate the letter from His Excellency President Donald Trump and his valued efforts to consolidate the foundations of peace and stability at the regional and international levels, as well as the appreciation it conveyed for Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting security and stability in the region,” El-Sisi wrote on his social media accounts.
He also welcomed Trump’s recognition of the central importance of the Nile River to Egypt, describing it as the lifeline of the Egyptian people.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to “serious and constructive” cooperation with Nile Basin countries, in accordance with international law, in a manner that safeguards shared interests and avoids causing harm to any party.
“These are the constants upon which the Egyptian position is founded,” El-Sisi said.
The comments came after Trump on Friday offered to restart high-level US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia, signalling a more interventionist American role in seeking a permanent resolution to the decade-long dispute over the GERD.
In a letter addressed to El-Sisi, Trump wrote that “no state in this region should unilaterally control the precious resources of the Nile” in a way that harms downstream countries, warning that the dispute could escalate into a major military confrontation if left unresolved.
Trump said resolving tensions over the dam was a top priority for his administration’s peace efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
According to the proposal outlined in the letter, the United States would monitor and coordinate “predictable water releases” during droughts and prolonged dry periods to protect Egypt and Sudan, while supporting Ethiopia’s ability to generate “substantial amounts of electricity” from the dam. The plan suggests surplus power could be shared with Egypt and Sudan to promote regional interdependence.
El-Sisi said he had written to Trump to express his gratitude, restate Egypt’s concerns over water security, and underline Cairo’s support for the US president’s mediation efforts, adding that he looked forward to continued cooperation in the coming phase.
Trump also linked his mediation offer to Egypt’s role in facilitating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, praising Cairo’s “steady role” in regional security since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
The letter was carbon-copied to several regional leaders, including the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the leaders of Ethiopia and Sudan, signalling a coordinated regional diplomatic approach.
The $4 billion GERD, now fully operational, has long been a source of tension. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for nearly all of its freshwater, considers any reduction in flow an existential threat. Ethiopia argues the dam is vital to its development and poverty reduction efforts.
Previous US-led negotiations in 2020 failed to produce a binding agreement, leaving the dispute in diplomatic deadlock for several years.
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