Safadi, US official discuss ties, region

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday met US National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk to discuss enhancing the strategic Jordanian-US partnership and ramping up efforts to address regional security and stability challenges.

Safadi commended support from the US, highlighting the two countries "solid" partnerships in various fields, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The 4th memorandum of understanding adopted by the two countries, which was signed in Washington and considered the longest and largest assistance provided to the Kingdom, covers the years 2023-2029. 

The memo reflects the "deep and strategic" historical relations between the two nations, he said, adding that it would help support the economy and the development process, including the Kingdom's economic reform programme.

Also on Friday, Safadi took part in a panel session organised by the Wilson Research Centre in Washington, during which means to advance the strategic Jordanian-American partnership, as well as the latest regional and international developments, were discussed.

During the session, Safadi reiterated that regional peace will not be achieved unless the Israeli occupation ends, and an independent Palestinian state is established on the pre-1967 lines according to the relevant international resolutions to live side-by-side in peace and security with Israel.  

Realising peace necessitates halting all illegal Israeli practices that undermine peace opportunities and the two-state solution, he said, calling for scaling up efforts in pursuit of resuming real and effective negotiations to usher in a peace agreement process based on the two-state solution.