Egypt has issued its clearest warning yet over the future of the Nile, declaring that no additional dams will be tolerated without prior agreement and strict adherence to international law. In a sweeping year-end interview, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty signalled that Cairo considers unilateral projects on the river a direct threat to national security, stressing that Egypt will not hesitate to take decisive and lawful action if its historic water share is put at risk.
Speaking on Saudi broadcaster MBC, Abdelatty said Egypt remains committed to diplomacy but has reached a point of firm resolve. Any attempt to construct new dams without consultation and coordination, he warned, would trigger a response consistent with the UN Charter. The message was unmistakable: while Egypt prefers negotiation, it will not allow faits accomplis on a river that supplies almost all of its freshwater needs.
The warning comes against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a project that has strained relations for more than a decade. Cairo fears that Addis Ababa’s control of the dam could endanger downstream flows during droughts, turning water management into a geopolitical lever. Abdelatty emphasised that Egypt’s dispute is not with the Ethiopian people, but with what he described as unilateral decision-making by their government.
At the same time, Egypt is repositioning itself diplomatically within Africa. Abdelatty hailed renewed talks within the Nile Basin Initiative as a breakthrough, noting that upstream and downstream states have agreed to revisit a long-frozen framework governing the river. He said Egypt is prepared to re-engage fully if amendments protect downstream rights, framing the move as a balance between supporting African development and safeguarding Egypt’s survival.
Beyond the Nile, the foreign minister used the interview to underline Egypt’s broader posture of caution and control. He called for shared international responsibility for the millions of refugees hosted by Egypt and defended tighter state oversight of asylum policies. On Syria, he said Cairo supports stability and unity while remaining wary of security risks. Yet it was the Nile that dominated his message: cooperation is welcome, but Egypt’s water security, he made clear, is a red line that cannot be crossed.
