Despite U.S. warnings, Ethiopia said it still plans to move forward with the first phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in July without an agreement in place with Sudan and Egypt, Addis Standard reported March 3. In a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly reassured al-Sisi that the United States will continue to back mediation between the three countries.