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Standing by UAE strategic for Jordan

May 23,2019 - Last updated at May 23,2019

The visit of His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, to Dubai on Wednesday for talks with Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has to be seen against the backdrop of the recent terrorist attacks on four commercial ships off the coast of the UAE and the subsequent terrorist attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia.

In both cases, Iranian agents are suspected of having committed these attacks. The visit came, therefore, to reiterate Jordan’s unwavering solidarity with the UAE, and to stand firm with the country against all threats to its security and stability.

The steadfastness of Jordan with the Arab Gulf country is not new. Jordan’s bilateral relations with the important Arab country on all fronts have been the hallmark of its relationship with the UAE. The two leaders went out of their way during their talks to emphasise that their securities are one and the same at all times.

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted the fact that Jordan provides the “key strategic depth” of the Arab Gulf countries, and that the close defence cooperation between the two sides is for all times.

The decision to hold joint military exercises in the UAE by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) and the UAE’s armed forces in the near future is projected, therefore, to cement the joint defences of the two countries in no uncertain terms.

Jordan has a highly advanced military force that is capable of lending military support to the UAE when needed. Jordan has invested heavily in the JAF in all its branches. When needed, they stand to defend the UAE from any external threats.

It is no secret that the Arab Gulf region is now the scene of heightened hostilities and tensions in the wake of the attacks on the four commercial ships and on the oil pumps of Saudi Arabia. It is also a foregone conclusion that the US and Iran are at loggerheads on several fronts and their standoffs are poised to escalate even further in the next few weeks.

Standing by the UAE is, therefore, a strategic decision for Jordan. Yet, the two sides cannot fail to develop further their excellent bilateral relations on all other fronts, including trade and commerce. An economically strong Jordan is a militarily strong Jordan. The two sides aimed to do just that and that is what they did.

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