In Abdullah meeting, Biden, Harris call for regional calm

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris told King Abdullah II of Jordan that the US was trying to calm the situation in the West Bank.

Biden and Abdullah “reaffirmed the close, enduring nature of the friendship between the United States and Jordan, and the president thanked His Majesty for his close partnership and the role he and Jordan play as a force for stability in the Middle East,” the White House said after their meeting on Thursday.

The president also confirmed “the unwavering US commitment to Jordan’s security and economic prosperity during this time of regional and global challenges, and the leaders discussed opportunities and mechanisms to reduce tensions, particularly in the West Bank.

“The president affirmed his strong support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and recognized the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s crucial role as the custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, citing the critical need to preserve the historic status quo at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount,” the White House said in a readout.

Meeting with Harris earlier, the vice president reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral partnership and the US commitment to Jordan’s security and economic prosperity.

Harris and Abdullah also expressed concern about the recent violence and tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, her office said.

She also underscored US support “for regional security, prosperity, and integration, emphasizing that steps to de-escalate tensions, promote moderation, and create meaningful economic opportunities across the Middle East would be essential to advancing these goals.

Addressing the issues

"The Vice President and King Abdullah II discussed efforts of both countries to address the global climate crisis and related water issues, as well as the importance of sustainable growth and development, which requires continued economic reform as well as women’s empowerment and participation," the statement reads. "The Vice President and King Abdullah also discussed the importance of stability in Iraq and other regional and global issues."

Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow in the Washington Institute’s Irwin Levy Family Program on the US-Israel Strategic Relationship said that there were no specific deliverables from the king’s meeting with Biden on Thursday.

“Outstanding bilateral issues were already concluded last year, namely the signing of a seven-year MOU according to which the US supports Jordan with a minimum of $1.45 billion a year; and approval of the sale of advanced F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to the kingdom,” he said. “The Palestinian-Israeli issue and its impact in Jordanian-Israeli relations will figure high in the meetings. Jordan and the US are both concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank, particularly as we are approaching another year in which Ramadan and Passover coincide.”