Egypt (Kaab TV) – Egypt is prepared to work with its African allies to help Ethiopia secure access to the Red Sea, provided that Addis Ababa shows flexibility in the ongoing water dispute, sources in Cairo familiar with the private consultations told The National newspaper.
According to the sources, the proposal was presented last week to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. It was also conveyed to Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to mediate the decade-long dispute over the sharing of the Nile waters between Egypt and Ethiopia, following Ethiopia’s construction of a massive dam on the river’s main tributary, the Blue Nile.
Egypt’s proposal reportedly includes an implicit warning that Cairo could use its political and military influence in Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti—as well as its significant naval presence in the southern Red Sea—to prevent Addis Ababa from gaining access to ports in those countries if it rejects the offer.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed Trump’s mediation initiative regarding the water dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Neither Addis Ababa nor Cairo has officially commented on the matter. However, during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized his country’s urgent need for access to the Red Sea.
“Our continued growth cannot be guaranteed if a nation of more than 130 million people is denied maritime access and remains geographically landlocked,” he said.
Egypt’s proposal comes at a time when Turkey and Egypt are rapidly strengthening their ties, a cooperation that has influenced developments in Sudan, where both countries support the Sudanese Armed Forces in their conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Both nations also maintain close relations with Somalia, which has an ongoing dispute with Ethiopia.
Egypt, with a population of more than 108 million and one of the driest climates in the world, views the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as an existential threat to its future. For years, Cairo has sought to persuade Ethiopia to sign a legally binding agreement on the dam’s operation to ensure fair water sharing, particularly during prolonged droughts.