President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt views the Nile River as a core component of its national security during talks in Cairo with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. According to Egypt's presidential spokesperson, Sisi emphasized Cairo's right to protect its water, food, and development interests. The statement comes as Egypt faces growing tensions over Nile water-sharing agreements with upstream nations.
The Nile supplies roughly 90 percent of Egypt's freshwater and supports agriculture, drinking water, and hydroelectric power for the country's 105 million people. Ethiopia's construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which began filling in 2020, has intensified regional disputes over river management and water allocation. Egypt and Sudan have objected to the dam's operation without binding agreements on water release.
Egypt has previously warned that any threat to Nile flows would constitute a threat to its survival, using language suggesting potential military response to projects it views as undermining its water security. The country has sought international pressure on Ethiopia to negotiate terms for dam operations. No agreement has been reached among the three countries since negotiations began over a decade ago.
