Khaberni - American President Donald Trump joked with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and his English translator during their meeting on Wednesday at the sidelines of the Davos World Economic Forum, about a speech made by el-Sisi.
Trump was discussing with the Egyptian President and the audience the issue of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam and assured that he would strive to resolve the crisis and bring together the Egyptian and Ethiopian leaders to sit together and reach a solution that ensures the continued flow of water to the Nile River, to which el-Sisi replied in English: "I appreciate that," having previously made his speech in Arabic which was translated by his companion.
Here, Trump responded, addressing the translator, saying: "I think he understands me, I think he understands English better than us."
Trump praised the Egyptian President, describing him as a great and very strong leader, adding that he does not know the Ethiopian leader “as I know you, but I have heard he is a strong man and I will try to bring you both together,” he said.
Trump said he is unhappy with the Grand Renaissance Dam, which is one of the largest dams in the world and restricts the flow of water to the Nile River in Egypt, and continued: "When I think about Egypt I think of the Nile River before anything else, but it flows through Ethiopia where a very large and giant dam was built," noting that this issue should have been dealt with a long time ago while it was being built yet the United States funded it.
He added that the dam has become a serious issue, and that he will work on signing an agreement that benefits all parties, as there are countries that no longer receive the amount of water they had historically gotten for many years.
For his part, el-Sisi expressed his gratitude to Trump for supporting Egypt in the matter of the Grand Renaissance Dam, which he described as an “existential issue,” pointing out Trump’s concern with this matter since his first term and his efforts to reach an agreement regarding the dam.
On Friday, Trump released a message he had sent to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, which included an offer to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia in the Grand Renaissance Dam and Nile River crisis.
In his address, Trump said he is "ready to resume American mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the issue of sharing the Nile waters responsibly and definitively," confirming that he and his team recognize "the critical importance of the Nile River for Egypt and its people.".
He said: "I wish to help you achieve an outcome that ensures meeting the water needs of Egypt, the Republic of Sudan, and Ethiopia in the long term," emphasizing that "no country in this region should unilaterally control the precious Nile resources, and harm its neighbors in the process".
