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Egypt Seeks Support of Major Powers on GERD Dispute

Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Ethiopia (File photo: Reuters)
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Ethiopia (File photo: Reuters)
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Egypt Seeks Support of Major Powers on GERD Dispute

Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Ethiopia (File photo: Reuters)
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Ethiopia (File photo: Reuters)

Egypt is seeking to ensure the support of the major powers in the conflict with Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which was brought to the UN Security Council.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry Minister Sameh Shoukry briefed his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the latest developments of the controversial dam.

Russia is one of the five major powers that have the ‘veto power’ in the Security Council, along with the United States, China, France, and Britain.

Cairo wants to guarantee the support of at least nine of the 15 council members, while ensuring that none of the five permanent members use the veto. It aims to have their vote in favor of a balanced resolution protecting its "water rights" in the face of Ethiopia.

Egypt urged the Security Council to intervene and emphasize the importance of holding negotiations in “good faith” between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to reach a just and balanced solution to the GERD dispute.

Shoukry said in a televised interview that his country filed a complaint to the Security Council to prevent tensions that might affect the region and after Ethiopia rejected all mediation attempts.

The FM thanked the Security Council for maintaining national peace and security, noting that GERD impacts the lives of more than 150 million Egyptian and Sudanese people.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi asserted his commitment to following a diplomatic and political path to find a fair solution for all.

Sisi told his army to "be prepared to carry out any mission here within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders to protect national security.”

Ethiopia refused to sign a final agreement on the rules of filling and operating the dam earlier this year, under the auspice of the US and World Bank.

GERD has been under construction since 2011 when Ethiopia kicked off building it on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile water. In 2015, the leaders of the three countries signed an initial agreement on the Renaissance Dam to guarantee Egypt’s share of 55 billion cubic meters of the Nile water.

Egypt rejects Ethiopia's “unilateral” intention to fill the dam reservoir in July, without signing a comprehensive final agreement.

Egyptian Ambassador Mohammed Morsi explained to Asharq al-Awsat that a number of issues could obstruct the Egyptian request. He indicated that the UN might issue an unclear resolution, with room for interpretation thus carrying a more general meaning, or it could include measures that prolong the conflict.

Morsi also warned that the UN resolution might call upon the three states to resume the negotiations without any conditions ensuring Ethiopia’s compliance.

However, political expert Malik Awni told Asharq Al-Awsat that resorting to the Security Council is considered a “risky option.”

Awni explained that the existing international legal framework is based on the political will of the major powers, through the mechanism of the Security Council. Yet, it is a process that does not adhere to any principles, except for the interests of these powers.

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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the Middle East, stating that Moscow “has not and will not withdraw from the region.” He emphasized ongoing communication with Syria’s new leadership and expressed readiness to support the political process in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov attributed Syria’s deteriorating situation to the previous regime, blaming its unwillingness to implement reforms and share power with the opposition.

“The refusal of the former Syrian regime to make any changes or share power with the opposition was one of the primary reasons for its collapse,” he said.

Lavrov noted that over the past decade, since President Bashar al-Assad requested Russian intervention in the Syrian war and the launch of the Astana peace process, Damascus had delayed advancing the political path.

“Despite support from Arab nations, Syrian authorities showed reluctance to move forward politically and sought to maintain the status quo,” he explained.

He highlighted Russia’s repeated calls for the Syrian government to engage with the Constitutional Committee, established during the 2018 Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, and to actively work on drafting a new constitution.

Lavrov also pointed to economic challenges exacerbated by sanctions, which have stifled Syria’s economy, and US control over oil-rich eastern regions. Resources were exploited to fuel separatist ambitions in northeastern Syria, he remarked.

Moreover, the FM revealed details of Moscow’s earlier discussions with Kurdish groups, reiterating his country’s position that Kurdish rights should be guaranteed within the constitutional frameworks of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Türkiye.

He argued that the previous Syrian regime’s reluctance to engage in political dialogue resulted in stalled reforms proposed by the United Nations, Moscow and Cairo platforms, and Istanbul-based opposition groups. This inaction, he said, created a vacuum that ultimately led to the collapse.

Furthermore, he dismissed claims that his country’s withdrawal from Syria would signal its departure from the Middle East.

“Russia has not and will not leave the region,” he declared. Without directly addressing the status of Russian military bases in Syria, Lavrov emphasized: “Our embassy never left Damascus, and we maintain ongoing communication with the authorities.”

He also stressed Russia’s willingness to facilitate inclusive dialogue involving all national, political and sectarian factions, as well as relevant international stakeholders. Lavrov underscored that recent discussions with Türkiye, Gulf nations, and other parties demonstrated widespread agreement that Russia and Iran must be involved in the Syrian peace process if sustainable results are to be achieved.

For his part, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Africa, reaffirmed Russia’s focus on developments in Syria, describing relations with Damascus as a “priority of Russian foreign policy.”

Reports on Tuesday suggested that Bogdanov might soon lead a Russian delegation to Damascus. However, a Russian diplomatic source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that no date for the visit has been confirmed. The visit, which was reportedly postponed, would mark the first by a senior Russian official to Damascus since the fall of Assad’s regime in December.

Meanwhile, media reports indicated that Moscow is facing logistical challenges in withdrawing military equipment from Syria, due to restrictions imposed by Syrian authorities on the movement of Russian ships in territorial waters.

According to the English-language edition of RT, the Russian ship Sparta 2, designated to transport military equipment and weapons, was denied entry to the Port of Tartus, where Russia maintains its only overseas naval base.