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A new trajectory for the country

Feb 09,2019 - Last updated at Feb 09,2019

It is nearly impossible to make a fair and complete commentary on the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his Ascension to the Throne. Just a flowery analysis would not do, as the occasion warrants a deep reflection and an honest and genuine accounting of the King's rule.

The first thing that comes to mind is the steadiness of the King's reign, even when the country was sailing through turbulent waters. No hiccups, no mercurial ups and downs and always steady as the country sailed through rough or calm seas. The overriding profile of the King's rule can be described as one that professed rationality and dependability. In other words, one can notice that the King's rule remained throughout past times without wild swings in either direction.

Jordan's relation with its traditional allies and friends remained untouched and can be counted on by friend and foe alike. In other words, the profile and temperament of Jordan's foreign policy vis-à-vis friend and foe can be characterised as coherent and rational at all times. Countries that deal with Jordan need not guess or conjecture as to where Jordan stands on regional and international issues and conflicts, for they are always predictable and stable. This is where Jordan's strength lies, as it can be counted on at all times and under all conditions.

The King's policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-state solution, remained steady. On Syria and Iraq, the policy of the King has been steadfast with clear vision right from the start. The same goes for the country's relations with the other Arab countries, notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. Even on Iran, despite the volatility of the crisis between the US and Iran, the King's hands remained calm and balanced. Where Jordan excelled even more is over international concerns and it has managed to be a key component of the regional and international efforts against terrorism and radicalism. Despite its small size and limited resources, Jordan has become a major player on regional and international arenas, particularly on issues of war and peace. What is even more important is that Jordan can be counted upon when push comes to shove on regional and international issues. 

On the domestic front, Jordan's successes during the past two decades of the King's rule were equally impressive, but unlike foreign affairs, which the King personally directed and controlled, there were other players on the domestic front. Once a prime minister and Cabinet members are duly chosen, they are given leeway to conduct internal affairs with minimum interventions by the King. It would be safe to conclude, therefore, that the King's control of the local scene was less absolute. No wonder the Kingdom's economic and social challenges continued to exacerbate during the past two decades with no end in sight.

To sum up, the King inherited a glorious legacy from his father His Majesty the late King Hussein, who had done wonders for the country and made it what it is today. The King has done his best to put this Hashemite legacy on a new trajectory to secure for the country an even better future; secure, stable and progressive.

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