Washington, DC – In a move reflecting the return of a strong US role in Middle Eastern and African affairs, Massad Boulos, advisor to US President Donald Trump on African and Middle Eastern affairs, revealed the outlines of a potential “diplomatic breakthrough.” This comes after a series of high-level meetings with the Ethiopian side in Washington.
American optimism and security coordination
In a tweet on the X platform, Paulus confirmed that the US administration held “productive and comprehensive” meetings with the Ethiopian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Gideon Timotheos, within the framework of the ongoing bilateral dialogue between the two countries. Paulus explained that the talks included constructive discussions on the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). He also noted that the dialogue extended to issues of regional stability, maritime security in the Red Sea, and international efforts to achieve a humanitarian truce and lasting peace in Sudan.
In the same vein, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Ethiopian counterpart on Monday, May 11, with the meeting focusing on expanding the security partnership and opening new avenues for trade.
Rubio described these steps as a “significant leap” in bilateral relations. This suggests Washington’s willingness to use economic incentives to ensure Addis Ababa’s flexibility on regional issues.
From Cairo to Washington: Mediation resumes
These moves come as a continuation of Paul’s tour of the region, which included a visit to Cairo on April 20, where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. At that time, Paul conveyed President Trump’s explicit desire to resume US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia, aiming to reach a “responsible and lasting” settlement. Paul affirmed that the US administration believes a comprehensive agreement that addresses the needs of all parties is possible. He also emphasized Washington’s readiness to support and facilitate this long-awaited negotiation.
Obstacles of the past and hopes for the future
It is worth noting that negotiations had completely stalled in 2024 after Cairo declared that talks had reached a dead end due to what it described as “the lack of political will on the Ethiopian side.”
However, the Trump administration’s diplomatic intervention, linking the dam issue to US investments and regional security, opens a new window of hope for ending the most prominent water dispute in Africa. It also safeguards Egypt’s historical rights to the Nile waters while balancing Ethiopia’s development aspirations.
