Army chief discusses military cooperation with Carter

AMMAN — King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben on Wednesday met with US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter and his accompanying delegation. 

At a meeting, which was also attended by HRH Prince Feisal, Zaben and Carter discussed the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Jordan and the US on issues of joint concern, especially in the military field and exchange of expertise between the armed forces of the two countries, an army statement said.

Carter was in Jordan as part of a regional tour that took him to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi leaders on Wednesday sought reassurance from the US military official over a deal curbing Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions, Agence France-Presse reported.

Carter held talks in the Red Sea city of Jeddah with King Salman and his son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is defence minister and second-in-line to the throne.

In his talks with Zaben in Amman, the two sides reviewed regional and global challenges, and means to confront terrorist gangs and the international efforts exerted to combat them. 

Carter commended the role of Jordan and its armed forces, stressing the US' continued support for Jordan’s military in various fields.

The meeting was attended by senior JAF officers and US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells, according to a JAF statement.