Jordan’s King Abdullah, UK PM Rishi Sunak discuss strategic relations

LONDON: Jordan’s King Abdullah and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met in London on Friday to discuss the development of strategic relations between their countries.
The king expressed Jordan’s keenness to advance its friendly ties with the UK and bolster cooperation in the political, economic and defense fields, Jordan News Agency reported.
He also expressed appreciation for the UK’s economic and development support for Jordan and stressed the need for increased collaboration among all nations to tackle the ramifications of the Ukrainian crisis, especially with regards to food and energy security.
On the issue of Palestine, King Abdullah stressed the need to achieve a just and comprehensive peace between Palestinians and Israelis on the basis of the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He said also that it was vital to preserve the historical and legal status quo in the holy city and prevent Israeli measures that might lead to an escalation of the conflict.
In that regard, Jordan would continue to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem under the Hashemite Custodianship, he added.
The king also stressed the importance of maintaining support for refugees through the UNHCR and UNRWA, and the pair also discussed regional and international efforts to counter terrorism.
Sunak said he was equally keen to strengthen the deep-rooted ties between the two countries and commended Jordan for the key role it plays in the Middle East region.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining cooperation to achieve economic prosperity and described Jordan as one of the UK’s most important allies in the region.