Donald Trump is proposing a “substantial” compromise to end the Nile water crisis. The former President has offered to mediate the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia, aiming to secure a deal that provides electricity for the upstream nation and water for the downstream nation.
Trump’s “successful approach” involves a trade-off. He supports Ethiopia’s right to generate electricity from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, recognizing its economic importance. However, this must be balanced by “predictable water releases” for Egypt, ensuring the Nile continues to sustain the country.
The conflict has been a stalemate for years. The dam is now fully operational, but no agreement dictates how it should be managed during droughts. Egypt and Sudan have demanded binding rules, while Ethiopia has resisted. The lack of progress has led to fears of potential conflict.
Trump’s involvement is not new; he has previously attempted to broker a deal and has claimed credit for preventing war. His recent comments in Virginia, where he called the dam a “big problem,” show that the issue remains a priority for him. He views the dam as a major disruptor to the river’s ecosystem.
This renewed offer highlights Trump’s confidence in deal-making. By focusing on the mutual benefits of electricity and water, he is trying to create a win-win scenario. The success of this initiative would depend on his ability to convince both sides that U.S. monitoring can ensure fairness.