Egypt continues its efforts to strengthen its stance on the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam crisis and to rally international support for its vision of reaching a binding legal agreement regulating the dam's operation and management.

The latest of these efforts was a meeting on Wednesday between Egyptian Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Sweilem and the newly appointed heads of several Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad, during which he reviewed the main determinants of Egypt's water policy, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation.

During the meeting, Sweilem reaffirmed that 'Egypt's policy is based on adherence to the rules of international law governing shared international rivers, ensuring the preservation of water rights and enhancing cooperation among basin states.'

Such moves carry great diplomatic importance in supporting Egypt's international stance on the dam crisis, according to former Assistant Foreign Minister and Vice President of the Egyptian Council for African Affairs, Ambassador Salah Halima, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat. He predicted that the path to resolving the dam crisis would involve three tracks, including the success of the current US mediation and Addis Ababa's response to Egyptian demands.

Egypt's share of the Nile River water is estimated at 55.5 billion cubic meters, on which it relies for about 97% of its drinking and agricultural uses, while it anticipates a potential deficit in its water share (which is insufficient for its needs) due to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia built on the main tributary of the Nile, causing tensions with downstream countries (Egypt and Sudan).

Egypt suffers from a 'water deficit' estimated at about 54 billion cubic meters annually; its water resources amount to about 60 billion cubic meters per year, compared to needs of up to 114 billion cubic meters per year, according to official data.

Egypt's Water Determinants

The Egyptian irrigation minister stressed during the meeting with his country's ambassadors that 'Egypt adopts an approach based on achieving common interests and supporting sustainable development efforts with Nile Basin countries, through implementing projects to clean waterways, building rainwater harvesting dams, solar-powered groundwater wells, rainfall forecasting and water quality measurement centers, as well as training and capacity-building programs.'

In this context, Sweilem emphasized that 'the issue of Nile water is one of Egypt's national security files, given Egypt's reliance on the Nile for about 98% of its renewable water resources,' reviewing developments in the Ethiopian dam file and the negotiation track that has extended for more than thirteen years.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Sweilem affirmed to the ambassadors 'the importance of the role played by Egyptian diplomatic missions in supporting national positions, thereby contributing to supporting Egyptian interests and enhancing Egypt's regional and international standing.'

Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (Reuters)

Former Assistant Foreign Minister and Vice President of the Egyptian Council for African Affairs, Ambassador Salah Halima, believes that the meeting held by the irrigation minister with the new ambassadors was clear in conveying specific political messages affirming Egypt's role and stance regarding water resources in the Nile Basin region.

These messages focused on several axes, including: emphasizing Egypt's role in implementing vital projects in Nile Basin countries to enhance water resources for the benefit of all member states, and affirming Egypt's established water rights consistent with international law, which stipulates equitable and fair distribution and no significant harm.

According to Ambassador Salah Halima, 'the moves come to rally international support for Cairo's position, which calls for reaching a binding, fair, and equitable legal agreement—a position that enjoys the support of all states and regional and international organizations.'

Exchange of Accusations

This comes amid a noticeable exchange of accusations between Egypt and Ethiopia over the dam in recent days, as the official Ethiopian News Agency has intensified its publication of criticism against Egypt regarding its rejection of the continued operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile without prior coordination.

On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty accused Ethiopia of managing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in a 'politicized' manner through unilateral measures.

Cairo had announced the suspension of the negotiation track with Addis Ababa over the dam in 2024 after years of rounds, attributing that to 'the lack of political will on the Ethiopian side,' according to previous statements from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.

Regarding the future of negotiations in light of these mutual accusations, Halima sees three tracks: first, Ethiopia voluntarily abandoning unilateral actions to reach a binding agreement; second, the success of the ongoing US mediation that has lasted for months; and third, Egypt and Sudan resorting to the United Nations under Chapters VI and VII of the Charter.

He explained that 'Chapter VI concerns peaceful settlement, while Chapter VII (Article 51) relates to the right of legitimate self-defense of vital interests, life, and existence in the event of significant harm, which is a form of aggression that must be stopped.'