Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday stressed along with his US Secretary of State Antony Blinken the commitment to enhance the strategic partnership that brings together Amman and Washington, official sources have said.
In phone call, the two diplomats discussed the new memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the strategic partnership between the two countries, said the sources.
The MoU frames the US aid for Jordan, replacing the current memorandum, which expires by the end of September 2022.
According to the current MoU, the US has provided Jordan with annual support over the past four years, which amounted to about $1.65 billion in 2021.
أجرى نائب رئيس الوزراء ووزير الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين @AymanHsafadi ووزير الخارجية الأمريكي @SecBlinken،اليوم، محادثات عبر الهاتف أكّد خلالها الوزيران الالتزام المشترك بتعزيز الشراكة الاستراتجية بين المملكة والولايات المتحدة وتطوير التعاون في مختلف المجالات.
🇺🇸 🇯🇴 pic.twitter.com/fznUhezXQv— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) April 1, 2022
Safadi, who is also Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, said the country valued the support provided by the US.
According to the official sources, he stressed the strong ties between the two countries in economic, defense, and other spheres, in addition to the mutual coordination with regard to a wide range of challenges in the Middle East region and efforts to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region.
Blinken reportedly praised Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah, for its part in realizing peace and stability, voicing his country’s desire to strengthen the historical partnership between the two countries.
Safadi briefed Blinken on the efforts led by the king and the contacts he is making in order to activate the peace process and reach a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution during the holy month of Ramadan, besides supporting the Palestinian economy.
Safadi stressed the importance of intensifying efforts aiming at respecting the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, and guaranteeing the rights of Muslims to worship at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif in the holy month of Ramadan.
He stressed the need to halt all illegal Israeli measures and stop all provocative actions that undermine achieving peace and calm.
The Ukrainian crisis was figured high, during the phone call, with Safadi voiced Jordan’s principled position that respect international law and the UN Charter and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.