ICYMI: US President Donald Trump offered on Friday to restart US-led talks between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the long-standing Nile River water-sharing dispute 🌊. In a letter posted by the White House, Trump told President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that the US is ready to re-engage after years of stalled negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The GERD, Africa's largest hydropower project, began operating last September and is set to more than double Ethiopia's electricity output ⚡. For Addis Ababa, it's a symbol of progress and pride. But Egypt, which gets about 97% of its water from the Nile, sees any drop in flow as an existential threat. Sudan, also downstream, is concerned about water security and the dam's safety.
Trump proposed a framework guaranteeing steady water supplies for Egypt and Sudan while letting Ethiopia benefit by selling or sharing extra electricity with its neighbors. Previous efforts by the US, African Union, World Bank, Russia and the UAE stalled over water-release schedules and legal guarantees.
For many young folks in South and Southeast Asia, this echoes regional water disputes—think Mekong dam debates or Ganges water-sharing talks. Will renewed US diplomacy finally tip the scale toward a win-win deal? Stay tuned for updates ✌️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
