Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an urgent and swift resolution to the long-standing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), describing the situation as critical to Egypt’s national survival.
Trump made the remarks during a high-profile meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, where regional stability and transatlantic cooperation were discussed. While the focus was primarily on defense and security, Trump took the opportunity to highlight what he described as one of the most pressing water security challenges in Africa.
“The dam has become a very serious problem,” Trump said. “As you know, the United States provided financial support for the construction of the dam in the past, but I don’t understand why the issues it created have not been properly addressed.”
He stressed that the dispute is no longer just a matter of regional tension, but a human and national issue for Egypt. “This dam represents life itself for the Egyptian people,” he said. “We have to find a solution, and we have to find it quickly.”
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, located on the Blue Nile near Ethiopia’s border with Sudan, has been a source of tension between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan for more than a decade. While Ethiopia views the project as essential to its development and energy needs, Egypt sees the dam as a potential threat to its vital water supply from the Nile River, on which nearly 100 million Egyptians depend.
Trump’s comments mark one of the strongest international calls in recent months for accelerated negotiations. Although U.S. administrations have played a mediating role in the past, no comprehensive agreement has yet been reached.
“We are trying to help reach a deal,” Trump concluded. “There’s no time to waste.”
