The two countries signed a military cooperation agreement and launched an air drill last November

Egypt and Sudan launch joint air drill as tensions grow over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

photo_camera AFP/PRESIDENCIA EGIPCIA - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (right) meeting with Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (left) in the capital Khartoum on 6 March 2021

The Nile River, one of the longest in the world, supplies drinking water and electricity to the ten countries through which it flows. The Blue Nile meets the White Nile at Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, and provides most of the Nile water that flows through northern Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean. Just over a month ago Egypt backed a Sudanese proposal to internationalise arbitration in the dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Renaissance Dam, infrastructure that threatens to reduce the Nile River's water resources flowing into Egypt.

At the time, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Cairo would support the formation of "an international quartet" comprising the European Union, the UN, the United States and the African Union, with the aim of sealing a satisfactory deal with Addis Ababa.

The water to be released by Ethiopia, for example, in the event of a multi-year drought, or dispute settlement mechanisms, are among the thorniest issues. While Egypt and Sudan are demanding a legally binding agreement, Ethiopia only wants to establish a set of guidelines.

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Against this backdrop of tensions with Ethiopia, the Egyptian president travelled to Sudan in March for the first time after the fall of Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the economic impact of the Grand Ethiopian Dam on both countries. The relationship between Egypt and Sudan is in good health, as evidenced by the signing of a military cooperation agreement. In addition, in November they launched an air drill.

Once again, amid renewed tensions over the filling of the High Dam, the Egyptian armed forces have begun a joint air training exercise, 'Nile Eagles 2', with the Sudanese air force at the latter's base in Merowe.

Mohammed Othman Al-Hussein, chief of staff of the Sudanese armed forces, praised the "clear harmony" in the performance between the forces. The exercise aims to achieve the maximum possible benefit in terms of planning and conducting air operations, the Egyptian armed forces explained.

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The manoeuvres come amid growing fears in Cairo and Khartoum over the effects of the Renaissance Dam on their share of water from the Nile River, with negotiations suspended and no solution in sight. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has already warned that Egypt will refuse to allow a single drop of its water to be taken. "No one is untouchable for us," he said. "Our water is a red line."

The Egyptian leader was speaking at a press conference held after the huge container ship Ever Given was refloated in the Suez Canal. The president added: "We choose to negotiate; hostile action is ugly and has effects that last for many years, and nations do not forget that. But if our water supplies are affected, Egypt's reaction will have repercussions in the region".

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