The long-standing tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) escalated recently following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that many Ethiopians have condemned as inflammatory and one-sided.
- Tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have intensified recently.
- Remarks by former U.S. President Trump favoring Egypt’s stance on the dam have exacerbated the situation.
- Despite prolonged negotiations, Ethiopia and Egypt have yet to reach a consensus on the dam’s operation and water-sharing guidelines.
Speaking during a meeting with NATO officials in Washington, Trump appeared to align himself with Egypt in the ongoing dispute over the $5 billion hydropower project being built on the Blue Nile, one of the Nile River’s primary tributaries.
Referring to the dam, Trump said it was “closing up water going to the Nile,” which he described as “a very important source of income and life … to take that away is pretty incredible. But we think we are going to have that solved very quickly.” He added, “I think if I am Egypt, I want to have water in the Nile and we are working on that.”
A similar incident occurred in 2020 when Trump suggested that the dam should be blown up by Egypt. In a telephone conversation with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, Trump remarked that Egypt “will end up blowing up the dam” if no agreement was reached.
The comments have provoked strong backlash among Ethiopians both at home and abroad, who view GERD as a critical piece of national infrastructure central to efforts to expand energy access, boost industrial growth, and lift millions out of poverty.
Ethiopians reject Trump’s position
Ethiopian officials and civil society groups argue that President Trump’s remarks not only undermine Ethiopia’s sovereign right to utilize its natural resources but also risk aggravating an already fragile diplomatic situation.
Experts like Fekahmed Negash, former executive director at the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO) of the Nile Basin Initiative, view Trump’s comments as too incendiary to be dismissed
While responding to questions from The Reporter, he described the U.S. President’s remarks as a clearly partisan intervention, albeit unsurprising, given Trump’s populist posture.
“President Trump held grudges against Ethiopia for not adhering to his self-styled mediation efforts between Ethiopia and Egypt eight years ago during his first presidency,” said Fekahmed, who also served as director of Transboundary Rivers Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water. “The Egyptians got the better of him to take a stand that Ethiopia should sign a binding treaty with Egypt and Sudan regarding the GERD.”
Fekahmed’s comments echo a broader sentiment in Ethiopia: that Trump’s rhetoric not only reveals bias but also revives unresolved diplomatic tensions rooted in earlier U.S. attempts to broker a deal, efforts which Ethiopia viewed as favoring Egypt’s demands.
The GERD Project
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), nearing completion on the Blue Nile near Sudan, is Africa’s largest hydropower project and a centerpiece of Ethiopia’s development agenda.
Valued at $5 billion, it is expected to generate over 6,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia’s power output and enabling it to export energy across the region.
While Ethiopia sees the dam as vital for poverty reduction and economic growth, Egypt fears it could threaten its water security. With nearly 90 percent of its population dependent on the Nile, Egypt argues the GERD could significantly reduce the river’s flow during critical periods.
The dispute has become a regional flashpoint. Both Ethiopia and Egypt have sought international backing, and the involvement of global powers has added diplomatic weight. President Donald Trump’s remarks appearing to support Egypt have been criticized in Ethiopia as undermining its sovereignty and risking greater tension.
Despite repeated negotiations, the parties remain divided over how the dam should be filled and operated.
Ethiopia insists it is acting within its rights, while Egypt continues to call for a binding agreement to protect its historical share of Nile waters.
