Egypt Warns Ethiopia Over Nile Dam, Raises Stakes at UN Security Council
CAIRO, September 9, 2025 – In a significant escalation of the long-running dispute over the Nile River, Egypt has formally addressed the United Nations Security Council, issuing a stark warning to Ethiopia over its unilateral actions regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The strongly-worded letter, sent by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, on Tuesday, condemns Ethiopia’s recent event announcing the completion and operation of the massive hydroelectric dam. Cairo asserts that this move “violates international law and norms” and represents a “direct threat to international peace and security.”
The diplomatic missive outlines Egypt’s longstanding position, characterizing the GERD as a unilateral project that undermines the legal framework governing the Eastern Nile Basin. The letter accuses Addis Ababa of adopting “intransigent positions,” procrastinating in negotiations, and seeking to impose a fait accompli to mobilize domestic sentiment “against an imaginary enemy.”
A key passage in the statement signals a potential shift in Egypt’s strategy. While noting its “utmost restraint” and commitment to diplomacy over the years, Egypt now explicitly “reserves its right to take all measures provided for under international law and the United Nations Charter to defend the existential interests of its people.” This language is widely interpreted in diplomatic circles as leaving all options, including possible military measures, on the table.
The dispute centers on the filling and operation of the dam on the Blue Nile, a tributary that provides the vast majority of water for the Nile River. Egypt and Sudan, both downstream nations, fear the project could severely diminish their critical water supplies, posing an existential threat to their agriculture, water security, and stability.
The letter calls on the international community to move beyond “political courtesies” and take a clear stance against what it describes as Ethiopia’s “irresponsible behavior,” labeling it a form of “blackmail.”
This appeal to the UN Security Council marks a new chapter in the decade-long dispute, internationalizing the conflict and raising the pressure for a mediated solution. The world now watches to see how the international body will respond to Egypt’s urgent plea for intervention.
