U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to resume mediation over the long-standing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
Trump described the project as a “dangerous” issue that has effectively blocked the Nile River, and said he intended to bring the Egyptian and Ethiopian leadership together to reach a settlement.
“I’m going to try bringing the two of you together, see if we can make a deal,” Trump said, adding that he aimed to “get that back on track” after mediation efforts during his first term remained unfinished.
Trump also characterised the dam as “massive” and noted that it had been financed by the United States, claiming that “somebody’s not getting the water that they are supposed to get.”
Al-Sisi thanked Trump for his support, describing the Nile dispute as an “existential issue” for Egypt. He said continued U.S. involvement could open “new horizons” for a breakthrough.
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The Egyptian president also praised Trump’s role in regional diplomacy, particularly regarding the conflict in Gaza. “I said it before, I reiterate it now… but for President Trump, we wouldn’t have reached an agreement on Gaza,” Al-Sisi told reporters. He called for full implementation of the “second phase” of the Gaza plan and announced the formation of a National Palestinian Committee to manage the territory.
Al-Sisi confirmed that Egypt had accepted an invitation to join the so-called “Board of Peace” — also referred to as the “Council of Peace” — which is expected to oversee efforts to settle global and regional conflicts, including the administration of Palestinian technocrats and Gaza reconstruction.
The two leaders also discussed regional security issues, including the conflict in Sudan. Al-Sisi welcomed U.S. involvement in Sudan within the framework of the “Quartet” and emphasised the need for an immediate humanitarian truce to alleviate civilian suffering. Regarding Lebanon, he stressed the importance of U.S. action to halt sovereignty violations and allow state institutions to assert authority across the country.
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Bilateral economic ties were another focus of the discussions. Al-Sisi proposed upgrading relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” and suggested hosting the second session of the Egyptian-American Economic Forum in 2026 to strengthen investment and trade links.
Trump praised Al-Sisi as a “great leader” and “strong guy,” highlighting the long-standing personal and diplomatic relationship between the two leaders. Reflecting on his first term in office, he claimed he was “pretty close to a deal” on the GERD before leaving office.
The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Hassan Rashad, director of the General Intelligence Service. The U.S. delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East.
The GERD, Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, has been a source of tension between Ethiopia, which is building the dam, and downstream countries Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on the Nile for water and agriculture. Previous negotiations mediated by the United States and the World Bank have failed to produce a final agreement on dam operations and water allocations.
Trump’s renewed pledge signals a potential re-entry of U.S. influence into the dispute, which has remained a key diplomatic issue in Northeast Africa, with implications for regional stability, energy production, and food security.
