AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah returned home on
Friday after concluding an official visit to Washington DC, during which he
held discussions with US President Joe Biden Vice President Kamala Harris, and
key US administration members, as well as Congress leadership and committees.
اضافة اعلان
Accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania and HRH Crown Prince
Hussein, King Abdullah began his three-week visit to the United States on July
1, 2021, at the annual Sun Valley economic forum in Idaho, where he met with
key political, business, and media leaders from across the globe to discuss
political and economic affairs.
The King’s summit with Biden at the White House sought to “reaffirm
the enduring strength of the partnership between the United States and Jordan,”
according to a White House statement.
The summit covered expanding the strategic partnership
between Jordan and the United States, and regional and international
developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause.
The King also thanked the United States for providing Jordan
with a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines.
“We come together as always as strong partners. We have, as
you said, many challenges in our part of the world. But you can always count on
me, my country, and many of our colleagues in the region.” His Majesty said,
according to a Royal Court statement.
For his part, President Biden stressed the United States’
support for Jordan. “You have always been there, and we will always be there
for Jordan,” he said.
“Also want to thank you for your vital leadership in the
Middle East. You live in a tough neighborhood, and, the fact is, I look forward
to hearing from His Majesty about the pressing challenges that Jordan faces,”
the president added, expressing readiness to continue strengthening bilateral
cooperation.
Discussions also covered developments in the region,
especially in Jerusalem, with His Majesty stressing the need to preserve the
historical and legal status quo in the city, especially at Al Haram Al Sharif,
stressing that Jordan will persist in undertaking its unwavering historical and
religious role in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem,
in line with the Hashemite Custodianship.
The King stressed the need to relaunch serious and effective
talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, in order to achieve just and
comprehensive peace, on the basis of the two-state solution, noting the
importance of ensuring the Palestinian people gain their legitimate rights and
establish their independent, sovereign, and viable state, on the 4 June 1967
lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
His Majesty King Abdullah was the first head of state from
the Middle East to visit the White House since President Biden took office
early this year — a symbolic gesture of Biden’s commitment to strengthening the
long-standing relationship between Jordan and the United States that has
suffered tremendously in recent years. “Both seem to agree that it was on the
wrong track during the Trump years, when the Trump White House largely ignored
and marginalized Jordan,” Curtis Ryan, professor of political science at Appalachian
State University, told Jordan News.
Despite this recent turmoil, King Abdullah has signaled a
readiness to revive Jordan’s long-standing partnership with the United States.
“There’s a precedent that’s being set here in terms of how much Abdullah prioritizes
the United States in Jordan’s broader foreign policy strategy,” said Sean Yom,
a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and professor of
political science at Temple University.
Although the Biden administration has pivoted away from the
Middle East as a top foreign policy priority, President Biden has demonstrated
a great interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation with Jordan. “The king
and the president both put a high value on the US-Jordanian relationship,” said
Ryan. “Both see this moment as a reset in bilateral relations and both want to
deepen relations diplomatically, militarily, and economically.”
On July 16, His Majesty met with US Central Command General
Kenneth McKenzie who referred to Jordan as one of the United States’ most
reliable partners and stated that, “Jordan is an important pillar in preserving
peace and advancing security throughout the region.”
His meeting with the US vice president covered US support for Jordan, as
well as for development projects and others related to the environment and
mitigating climate change and its impact on natural resources.
In
talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd, the King and Lloyd reviewed prospects
for cooperation in the military and security fields.
In
a statement commencing his meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken,
His Majesty contended that Jordan will continue its cooperation with the US to
address developments in the Middle East.
Meanwhile,
the King also held talks with congressional and Senate leaders, during which he
expressed his optimism in the beginning of a new direction towards a future of
progress and prosperity that inspires hope and trust in the peoples of the
region.
“There
seems to be a new spirit of cooperation and coordination between many of my
friends around the region and so I come here to Washington to see how we can
really turn 2021 into a positive year,” King Abdullah said Thursday in remarks
to the media ahead of his meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker
Nancy Pelosi.
His Majesty also held discussions with World Bank Group
President David Malpass, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director
Kristalina Georgieva, in separate meetings, over Jordan’s efforts in
implementing economic and development plans seeking to provide job
opportunities, enhancing investments, and improving the business environment
and basic services, with the goal of achieving growth and providing jobs, while
maintaining economic stability and supporting those most impacted by COVID-19
implications.
The King’s working visit also included talks with US Agency
for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, US National
Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Albert Bourla and Archbishop of Washington Wilton Cardinal Gregory, among
others.
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