Foreign Minister: Water is a national security issue and there is no compromise on it

Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that water is an existential issue for Egypt and is directly linked to national security, and there is no compromise, leniency or concession on it, and if the share we have had since 1959 barely suffices 60% of Egypt's annual needs.

He added during a special interview on "Cairo News" channel, that we cannot give up a single drop because what we get now is not enough, stressing that the Egyptian position is clear and we communicate with all regional and international parties, and it is Egypt's first issue.

He pointed out that US Secretary Blinken spoke about the United States' recognition that the water issue is an existential issue for Egypt, and that the Nile waters are a matter of utmost importance to Egypt and cannot be taken lightly.

He added that there are strong international positions and we cooperate with all partners in the region and the European Union to reaffirm Egyptian concerns and they must be taken into consideration and we cannot leave it to any country to do whatever it wants with the Nile waters, as the Nile waters belong to all riparian countries and the rights of downstream countries cannot be neglected, because this is what international law says and we will continue to mobilize international support and endorsement for this legal and legitimate position, and the importance of reaching a binding legal agreement to fill and operate the dam and not cause any harm to the downstream countries.

He continued: This matter must not be left to the whims of certain countries, whether they are upstream countries or to impose wrong unilateral policies that threaten the interests and concerns of downstream countries, and it is an existential issue for Egypt and other countries, so we emphasized the issue of water and food security.

Regarding the Sudanese crisis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Egyptian role is clear to everyone in supporting our brothers in Sudan, as it is a sister country and a neighboring country and we are proud of it, and the Egyptian people and leadership are very generous and do not stop providing all forms of cooperation and support.

He added: The huge numbers of Sudanese brothers who flocked to Egypt after the outbreak of the unfortunate events in April 2023 in Sudan are welcome and they are our brothers and among their brothers in Egypt and we provide them with all forms of support.