Joe Biden, right, meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, left, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Joe Biden met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the first series of meetings with Middle Eastern leaders. On Monday, Oval Office talks discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and appreciation for the king and his leadership in the region.
A senior Biden administration official said Biden’s talks with Abdullah would “include the way forward for Israel and the Palestinians.” Jordan has reportedly been in a tough position after an alleged plot against Abdullah earlier this year involving his half-brother.
However, Biden aimed to maintain his relationship with Abdullah and hoped to lean on him to mediate if a conflict were to break out on the region.
“I want to thank you, Your Majesty, for your enduring and strategic relationship with the United States,” Biden expressed. “You’ve always been there and we will always be there for Jordan.”
We are pleased to provide 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to help save Jordanian lives. We're grateful for Jordan’s COVID-19 related medical assistance to the U.S. in July 2020, and proud to be able to respond in kind by sharing this resource with our crucial ally and friend. pic.twitter.com/ss6qA0JZHO
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 18, 2021
The meeting comes days after the U.S. sent 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Jordan.
Abdullah is the first Middle Easter leader to meet with Biden at the White House. The Iraqi prime minister is expected to meet with Biden on July 26 and the Israeli prime minister is reportedly scheduled to meet later this summer.
Source: One America News Network
