By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
USA, January 17, 2026 U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to restart American mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the long-running dispute over Nile water sharing and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), according to a letter posted on his account on Truth Social addressed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
In the letter, dated January 16, 2026, Trump invoking what he described as a “personal friendship” and America’s commitment to peace, Trump said he is prepared to re-engage the United States as a mediator to “responsibly resolve” the Nile water-sharing issue “once and for all.”
Trump emphasized that the Nile River holds existential importance for Egypt and its people, while also stressing the need to ensure water security for Sudan and Ethiopia. He asserted that no country in the region should unilaterally control the Nile’s resources or disadvantage its neighbors.
“With the right technical expertise, fair and transparent negotiations, and a strong United States role in monitoring and coordination, we can achieve a lasting agreement for all Nile Basin nations,” Trump wrote.
He argued that a successful agreement would guarantee predictable water releases during droughts and prolonged dry periods for Egypt and Sudan, while allowing Ethiopia to generate substantial electricity from the dam — including power that could be given or sold to downstream countries.
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Trump also warned against the risk of military confrontation, expressing hope that the “understandable dispute” over the GERD would not escalate into major conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia.
The letter was copied to several regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, underscoring the regional and international stakes of the Nile dispute.
The letter also drew attention to the inclusion of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan among its recipients, despite the fact that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are not Nile Basin countries. According to observers, this reflects Washington’s recognition of the indirect political influence the two Gulf countries may exercise in the dispute.
Saudi Arabia is regarded as a strategic ally of Egypt and Sudan, while the United Arab Emirates maintains close ties with Ethiopia. Their inclusion in the correspondence is therefore seen as a signal of Washington’s effort to broaden the circle of regional influence and diplomatic pressure, with the aim of pushing the parties toward a negotiated settlement and avoiding military escalation.
