Today's Edition
AHMED MURAD (CAIRO) - The UAE and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are bound by distinguished and effective partnership, coupled with harmony in vision and positions towards various regional and international issues, according to political observers.
Speaking to Aletihad, they said the two countries play a pivotal and effective role in supporting the course of peace and stability in the Middle East, in light of the existence of a common vision between the two countries that establishes the foundations of peace and stability in the region and the world, in addition to the great diplomatic, political, and economic weight and influence wielded by the two nations.
The leaderships of the two countries are keen to enhance aspects of joint cooperation in all fields, and to coordinate positions and vision, in a way that serves peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole, by strengthening diplomatic mechanisms and peaceful alternatives.
According to Hamdi Saleh, Egyptian diplomat and expert in international relations, the UAE and Jordan enjoy very close relations, and there is constant coordination between them in various fields, whether at the political, security, economic or military levels.
There is keenness on the part of both countries to work together to enhance security, stability, and peace in the world and the Middle East in particular, he noted. Speaking to Aletihad, the Egyptian diplomat highlighted the pivotal role played by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II in supporting the course of peace and stability at both regional and global levels, which is clearly evident in the many meetings and summits that brought the two leaders together during the recent period.
During this year, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II met in eight summits, including five bilateral summits and three international summits. The efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region and the world were at the top of the agenda of discussions and consultations that took place between the two leaders. Saleh, the former assistant to the Egyptian Foreign Minister, said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II have distinguished relations with the majority of world leaders, especially the leaders of the major countries, and they are keen to use these ties to serve the issues of peace, security, and stability. Arab and Islamic worlds are always at the forefront of their interests in various international forums, which makes the UAE and Jordan important and influential axes in the Middle East.”
Saleh emphasised the importance of the diplomatic weight that the UAE and Jordan enjoy, which enhances their joint efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and the world, in light of the enormous consensus and harmony in their positions on various issues, in addition to a shared vision for peace and stability that the two countries declare in various regional and international forums and occasions.
Strategic Accord
On the other hand, Jordanian writer and political analyst, Adnan Bureih, mentioned that Emirati-Jordanian relations “go beyond the shores of diplomacy and protocols to a stage of strategic accord based on rules and principles, through which the international community can be addressed in a language it understands”. This was evident in the positions of the two countries calling for peace and stability in light of what the Gaza Strip is witnessing.
“The Emirati-Jordanian stances carry the hallmarks of justice, peace, and stability, the ultimate goals the leaderships of the two countries are striving to achieve in various international forums,” Bureih told Aletihad. He said that the visit of the Jordanian monarch to the UAE comes at a very sensitive time, in light of the crises experienced by a number of countries in the region, which requires strengthening the alliance of brotherly countries with the aim of reviving hope for peoples aspiring for peace and stability.
He pointed out that the UAE and Jordan support international legitimacy resolutions that fulfil the Palestinians’ right to an independent, stable, and prosperous homeland based on the two-state solution. He added that meetings between the Emirati and Jordanian leaderships always result in an action plan that guides the regional scene.
Shared Aspirations
For her part Dr. Nadia Helmy, Professor of Political Science at Beni-Suef University in Egypt, said that the UAE and Jordan have a strong and distinctive partnership that supports efforts and initiatives aimed at achieving stability and peace in the Middle East, and resolving conflicts and crises through dialogue and sound political means.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during his visit to Jordan last August, affirmed that the UAE and Jordan are partners in working towards regional stability, Helmy said, adding that both leaders share a common vision for establishing peace and stability for all peoples of the region. His Majesty King Abdullah II praised the role of the UAE in defending Arab issues in the Security Council, as a non-permanent member of the international organisation, appreciating the ongoing coordination and consultation between the two countries to serve Arab issues and enhance regional security and stability.
Helmy told Aletihad that there is a general consensus on the importance of forming a regional Jordanian-Emirati alliance with political, security, and economic dimensions to coordinate positions, and vision, and enhance integration, which contributes to supporting security, stability, and peace in the region.
The periodic summits that bring together the leaderships of the two countries highlight the importance of coordination between them to achieve common aspirations, unify the Arab front, and strengthen the countries of the Arab region, and safeguard their security and stability.
She pointed out that the UAE and Jordan agree on the importance of prioritising political and peaceful solutions to address the crises in the region, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue, with a shared objective for comprehensive, permanent, and fair peace as the sole way to resolve the crisis.
This embodies the belief of both countries that joint Arab action in various fields is vital for the success of the region in facing challenges. “Jordan is a strategic partner for the Arab Gulf states, which confirms the importance of enhancing the concept of security and existing political and economic partnerships between Jordan and the UAE in various fields,” she said.
The UAE and Jordan also enjoy high-level military relations based on cooperation, coordination, and the exchange of military and security expertise and competencies. Military cooperation between the two countries serves regional security, stability, and peace.
It is also noteworthy that there is a joint committee for defence cooperation between the countries that meets annually. Both countries also signed two agreements and seven memoranda of understanding in the defence field.
