Egypt has firmly denied media reports suggesting that it is prepared to grant Ethiopia maritime access to the Red Sea in return for Ethiopian flexibility regarding negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). According to a statement by a responsible source cited by the Egyptian state news agency, these claims are completely unfounded. The source emphasized that Egypt's position on water security and the GERD remains steadfast and is based on adherence to international law, a rejection of unilateral actions, and a commitment to maintaining its water share and protecting the rights of downstream countries.

Additionally, the statement highlighted that governance and security over the Red Sea are exclusively the domain of the countries bordering it, as the sea is a strategic passage directly linked to the national security of these nations. Egypt explicitly rejects any involvement of landlocked Ethiopia in arrangements concerning the Red Sea. This assertion serves to reinforce Egypt's ongoing struggle to protect its water interests while balancing regional geopolitical tensions, particularly in the context of Ethiopia's dam project, which has been a source of contention between the two nations.

The exchange of such allegations in the media encourages a climate of mistrust and complicates already sensitive negotiations over the dam. The situation remains precarious as both countries are embroiled in talks aimed at resolving their disputes over Nile water usage and dam operations, which critical implications for water resources management and regional cooperation in the face of climate change challenges.