Egypt has firmly reiterated that it will not relinquish its historic rights to Nile River water amid rising tensions following Ethiopia’s completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The hydroelectric dam, constructed on the Blue Nile, was officially announced as completed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in early July 2025, marking a milestone for Ethiopia’s development ambitions but escalating longstanding disputes with downstream neighbors Egypt and Sudan.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized at a joint press conference that Egypt views its Nile water share as a “red line” vital to the country’s survival. He noted that Egypt and Sudan together receive about 85 billion cubic meters of Nile water annually—only a small fraction of the river’s total flow—and that any reduction would threaten Egypt’s agriculture, population, and overall livelihood. Sisi warned that anyone counting on Egypt to overlook its water rights “is mistaken,” framing the issue as central to Egypt’s national security and sovereignty.
Egypt has expressed openness to regional development but insists such projects must not diminish the quantity of water reaching downstream countries. Despite years of negotiations under African Union mediation, the three countries have yet to reach a legally binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the dam’s reservoir. Egyptian officials accuse Ethiopia of unilateral actions and rejecting serious cooperation, while Ethiopia maintains that the dam is critical for its electrification and growth and that it does not require external authorization.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has echoed the president’s stance, declaring Egypt’s right to defend itself against threats posed by GERD’s operation and signaling that diplomatic efforts have reached an impasse. Egypt has also been investing in alternative water sources such as desalination and sewage treatment to mitigate the potential impact of dam-related water reductions.
The GERD, Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, has been controversial since its 2011 inception. While Ethiopia views it as a sovereign development imperative and a path to becoming a major energy exporter, Egypt regards the dam as an existential threat given its near-total reliance on the Nile for fresh water amid rapidly growing population and climate change pressures.
The completion of the dam has intensified diplomatic tension with warnings from Egypt that it will defend its Nile water rights by all means necessary. The dispute underscores the complex challenge of balancing upstream development with downstream water security in a river basin shared by 11 nations, and the urgent need for a mutually acceptable agreement that secures water access and regional stability.
