“Predictable water releases” are the key to peace on the Nile, according to Donald Trump. The former U.S. President has offered to step back into the role of mediator to resolve the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, proposing a framework that balances the competing needs of Egypt and Ethiopia.
Trump’s plan, communicated to Egyptian leadership, relies on a structured compromise. He advocates for a system where Ethiopia can run the dam’s turbines for electricity, provided they adhere to a schedule of water releases that protects Egypt. This technical solution aims to replace political posturing with engineering certainties.
The conflict has persisted for over a decade, driven by the incompatible narratives of the two nations. Egypt views the Nile as a historical right, while Ethiopia views the dam as a sovereign necessity. Sudan, caught in the middle, has struggled to bring the sides together, and U.S. diplomacy under President Biden also failed to yield a treaty.
Trump has often referenced the Nile dispute in his political rallies, claiming to have solved it. In September, he revisited the topic, describing the dam as a massive structure that interrupts the river’s flow. His comments reflect a continued interest in the region’s stability and resources.
By offering to provide technical expertise and coordination, Trump is attempting to depoliticize the deadlock. His focus on transparency and monitoring suggests he believes that with the right safeguards, a deal is not only possible but achievable, potentially stabilizing one of the world’s most critical waterways.