Egypt has clarified its position on resuming negotiations regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) following statements by US President Donald Trump expressing Washington’s keenness to help reach a solution to the crisis, RT reported on Monday.
Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, said on Monday that Cairo officially suspended GERD negotiations in December 2023, accusing Ethiopia of continuing to stall, renege on agreements, and fail to adhere to the rules of international law.
During a phone interview with the program “al-Hekaya,” (the story) hosted by Amr Adib, on MBC Masr, Sweilem said that the decision to suspend negotiations was a “state decision,” explaining that Egypt no longer saw any point in continuing a negotiating process that had yielded no progress.
He added that Ethiopia “was backtracking on every agreement and engaging in stalling tactics,” which prompted Cairo to halt negotiations after it became clear there was nothing left to build upon.
No negotiations at the moment
The minister noted that the US is showing “good faith” in seeking to bridge the gap between Cairo and Addis Ababa, following statements by US President Donald Trump during his meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about working to find a solution to the crisis.
Sweilem stressed that “there are no negotiations at the moment,” emphasizing that Egypt will not enter any new round of negotiations except within a framework of clear national principles, in a way that guarantees the protection of Egyptian water rights.
State reassures on Egypt’s water situation
The Minister of Irrigation issued reassuring statements regarding the country’s water situation, emphasizing that the water reserves in Lake Nasser are “very reassuring” and that the state is managing the reserves with utmost efficiency, ensuring that no cubic meter of water is released except to maximize its use in electricity generation or to meet water needs.
Egypt’s stances comes at a time when the GERD crisis is witnessing renewed international attention following Trump’s statements regarding his willingness to help resolve the crisis.
Cairo maintains its position on the necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement that regulates the rules for filling and operating the dam, thus preserving the rights of downstream countries and guaranteeing that their water security is not harmed.
