On the last January 30 , King Abdullah II began his first visit to US under the new American administration, since he met with US officials in the administration, including Mike Pence Vice President ,also met with the new American Minister of Foreign Affairs Rex Tillerson. King Abdullah II also met with the leaders of the Senate and the chairmen and members of the Appropriations Committee and the Armed Services Committee in the Senate, and the chairmen and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Committee on Armed Services and the US house Appropriations Subcommittee on state , foreign operations .
King Abdullah II stressed, in meetings with US officials, according to the official Jordanian news agency, on the importance of the ceasefire in Syria and the fight against terrorism, being a perfect solution to protect the Syrian brothers and provide security for them around the regions of Syria, stressing the importance of unity and stability of Syria and Iraq and the need to work on the development of political solutions that bring together all sects.
With regard to the Palestinian issue, King Abdullah II affirmed that to proceed with the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem would have consequences in our region to undermine the chances of achieving peace and solution of the two countries and weaken the chances of success of the war against terrorism And added it would be for any decision related to move the embassy negative effects on efforts to achieve security and stability in the region, especially in light of the importance of holy city to the Arab and Islamic peoples, stressing that such a decision would nurture the despair and anger that has, and will enable the extremists to spread their dark ideas and agendas . King Abdullah II also stressed, in this regard, that there is no alternative to a two-state solution that ensures the achievement of justice, freedom and stability, stressing the importance of not taking action to undermine the chances of resuming the peace process.
On the 2th of the current February , the White House announced that US President Donald Trump has met with King Abdullah II on the sidelines of the annual “Prayer Breakfast” in the Washington. The White House did not disclose any details about the content of the dialogue between the two leaders. Thus, Jordan’s King Abdullah II is the first Arab leader to meet US President Donald Trump. This meeting comes in the context to begin to rebuild a new American strategy in the Middle East and this is the result of the unique role of the Kingdom in the balance between the key players in the region. Jordan is the second Arab country after Egypt, which signed a peace agreement with Israel in the seventies of the last century, and has diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv, and to conduct an active role during the reign of King Abdullah II in the settlement of regional issues and conflicts in the Arab world. Therefore their meeting reflects, the bet of the new US administration at an advanced role for Jordan in its strategy in the Middle East.
On the other hand, the visit of King Abdullah II’s to Washington comes immediately after the end of his visit to Moscow on the last January 25 and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, where the King referred to “the central role of Russia” in the world politics in general and in the Middle East in particular . It is known that the policy that was pursued by King Abdullah II characterized by a lot of flexibility and rationality, as well as its geopolitical position to make the Kingdom during the reign of King Abdullah II, the focus of attention and support of both parties.
So the current visit of King Abdullah II to the US capital of Washington, is an opportunity for the Jordanian diplomacy to re-emphasize of fixed and declared positions of Jordan in the need for cooperation to solve the region’s problems and crises, especially the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis, to thwart terrorist plots that seek to export their war against humanity, and show it as a war between Muslims and the West , which means necessarily not taking any measures that could be used by terrorists to perpetuate a state of anger and frustration and despair that constitute a fertile environment for the spread of their dark rhetoric and ideas .
Accordingly, King Abdullah II realizes that his visit to Washington is different this time in terms of the stage in its form , content , challenges and issues, and he is well aware of its details after the inventory of continuous effort, and the march, which was full of 18 years of time, rich of a cumulative expertise, and distinguished of statesmanship , rationality and wisdom, which made it possible for Jordan to pass the historical stages which are full of thorny difficult challenges.
The unity of the Arab Studies
Translated by : Mudhaffar al-Kusairi
Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies