Washington DC, 3 February 2023 (TDI): The President of the United States (US) Joe Biden met Jordan’s King Abdullah II amid rising Middle East tensions.
President Biden received King Abdullah II for special lunch at the White House. Due to the escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, the Monarch has been invited to the White House three times since Biden took office.
According to the Jordanian Royal Court, the discussions between the Monarch and President focused on strengthening Jordan-US strategic partnerships by expanding cooperation across various sectors.
The Royal Court further stated that Biden and Abdullah reviewed the recent regional developments relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the significance of the US’ role in promoting calm in the area.
Moreover, the King of Jordan emphasized restoring calm in the West Bank and preventing further escalation. The President appreciated Jordan for its crucial role in the region.
During their meeting, they also discussed the consequences of the Ukraine crisis in the Middle East. Increased oil prices and grain costs due to the Ukrainian crisis have substantially impacted Jordan’s economy.
On Tuesday, King Abdullah met with legislative officials, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He acknowledged his gratitude for the United States’ financial assistance to Jordan.
Palestine Conflict; Washington & Jordan Meetings
Jordan is recognized as the custodian of the Temple Mount, also known as the Haram Al-Sharif, Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under a peace treaty signed with Israel in 1994. This holy place is revered by both Muslims and Jews.
Jordan has recognized the significance of sustaining the long-standing status quo at the holy site. Jordan has played an important role in calming down tensions in Jerusalem.
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King Abdullah’s last trip to the White House in May 2022 was to reduce tensions in Jerusalem. The White House meeting between these nations occurred after some of the worst Middle East bloodshed in years.
Several Palestinians have been dying in clashes with Israeli troops in recent days. Last week, Israel attacked the Jenin refugee camp and killed nine civilians.
Invasion of Ukraine
Another primary concern during the meeting was the conflict in Ukraine. Jordan’s economy has been depressingly impacted due to several regional wars.
These also include wars in Iraq and Syria, and, more recently, the rise in energy and grain prices brought on by the conflict in Ukraine has also deteriorated the situation.
