Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to revive U.S.-led mediation efforts to address the prolonged dispute over the sharing of Nile River waters between Egypt and Ethiopia. Trump emphasized that no single nation should unilaterally dominate the river’s resources, a sentiment he shared on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Trump highlighted the need for a balanced approach that would ensure predictable water releases during droughts and dry periods for Egypt and Sudan. This approach would also allow Ethiopia to generate electricity, with the potential to supply power to its neighbors. The ongoing dispute stems from Ethiopia’s construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is crucial for its economic growth and energy needs, while Egypt fears the project could threaten its water supply, which is vital for its survival.

In response, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Water Minister Hani Sewilam jointly stated their opposition to unilateral actions concerning the Nile, implicitly referencing the GERD. They cautioned that Cairo would not consent to new dams on the Nile without a legal agreement reached beforehand.

The dispute has persisted since Ethiopia initiated the GERD project in 2011, with Egypt and Sudan consistently voicing concerns about their water allocations. Despite years of trilateral negotiations, a binding agreement on the dam’s filling and operation remains elusive. Washington initially led mediation efforts during Trump’s first term, but these efforts stalled in 2020 when Ethiopia withdrew, although some discussions have continued under the African Union’s auspices.