Reaffirming the enduring resilience of the partnership between the United States and Jordan, His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and his son His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein ibn Abdullah visited U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House.
The July 2021 meeting touched on topics such as Jordan’s regional economic integration through investment in energy infrastructure, its plan for diversifying its supply of fresh water through desalination, U.S. support for the modernization of Jordan’s F-16 aircraft and counterterrorism.
Also discussed was humanitarian assistance needed for over
a million refugees who fled to Jordan during the ongoing conflict
in Syria.
“You have always been there, and we will always be there for Jordan,” President Biden said during the meeting with King Abdullah.
During his visit to the U.S., the king flew to Tampa, Florida, to meet with then-U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie.
“The leaders discussed shared challenges originating in the Middle East — from combating extremism to improving border security — and agreed to explore creative ways to expand bilateral coordination between the two nations,” Gen. McKenzie’s office announced. McKenzie called Jordan “an important pillar in preserving peace and advancing security throughout the region.”
The two countries maintain a solid relationship dedicated to upholding security in the region. For example, in July 2021, the U.S. began shipping half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Jordan as part of a U.S. global effort to fight the pandemic. Military relations include joint sponsorship of Eager Lion, the largest military exercise in the Middle East.
Sources: elaph.com, Aljazeera.net, The New York Times, CENTCOM
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