US President Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, calling the project a “stupid thing.”
Speaking at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, on Friday, Trump acknowledged that Ethiopia had built a massive dam—one of the largest in the world—, and that the project had been funded by the US.
But that did not stop him from criticizing the project, stating “It’s a stupid thing… They took all the water from the Nile River, and that is not good at all for Egypt. The Nile River became almost devoid of water, but I managed to solve this problem.”
Egypt responds
Ambassador Salah Halima, the Deputy Chairman of the Egyptian Council for African Affairs, said that the US President’s remarks offer an opportunity to revitalize the American role in resolving the crisis, thereby safeguarding the water rights of Egypt and Sudan in accordance with international law.
He noted that Trump had previously played a pivotal role during his first term in negotiations involving the US.
These negotiations resulted in a draft agreement among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia outlining mechanisms for the dam’s operation and management, as well as protocols for addressing prolonged droughts and periods of water scarcity.
Halima added that the draft agreement aimed to strike a balance among the interests of the three nations and safeguard their water rights, while also fostering cooperation and joint management.
The negotiation process at the time could have contributed to resolving the crisis in accordance with international law, he said.
Halima noted that Ethiopia’s stance conflicts with Egypt’s interests, and warned of the repercussions of the ongoing dispute over filling and operating rules—particularly during periods of drought and water scarcity.
He also noted that concerns extend to the potential construction of additional dams, which could heighten the risks facing Egypt and Sudan, especially in the event of prolonged drought or dam failure.
