Prime minister emphasises strategic Jordan-US ties

AMMAN — Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Monday met with a delegation from the Republican Party of the United States Congress. 

Emphasising the strategic relationship between the two countries, Khasawneh praised the support provided by the US to Jordan, which contributes to the implementation of multiple development and service projects, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

He also commended the role of the US Congress in supporting Jordan and its development efforts. The prime minister highlighted the fourth memorandum of understanding on strategic partnership that was signed between the two countries last year, under which the US provides annual assistance of $1.45 billion, starting from the fiscal year 2023 and ending in the fiscal year 2029, and its role in enhancing the economic development process in the Kingdom.

The premier also reviewed the comprehensive modernisation project being led by His Majesty King Abdullah in the political, economic and administrative sectors. In the political sector, legislation related to the political modernisation system, including the Parties Law, the Election Law and their associated constitutional amendments, was introduced to support political and partisan work in the Kingdom as well as empower women and the youth, and enhance their role in the decision-making process.

The prime minister also highlighted the key features of the executive programme of the Economic Vision 2023-2025, and the importance of the public sector modernisation map as “a lever” for comprehensive modernisation and activating the role of the private sector.

Despite the challenges posed by the three years following the coronavirus pandemic, and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the overall economy has achieved positive indicators, as confirmed by many international rating institutions, he said.

The prime minister stressed that the monetary policy adopted by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) has positively contributed to retaining the stability of the Jordanian dinar’s exchange rate and maintaining acceptable levels of inflation. Khasawneh also highlighted the unprecedented quantity of foreign currency reserves held by the CBJ, which has reached about $17 billion.

Referring to the cooperation initiatives that Jordan is keen to implement with several countries in the region, Khasawneh highlighted the Quadrilateral Industrial Partnership Initiative between Jordan, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain, as well as the Tripartite Cooperation Mechanism between Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, Petra added.

Regarding Jordan’s efforts to become a regional energy hub, the prime minister said that around 30 per cent of the energy currently used in Jordan comes from solar and wind power.

Jordan is still suffering from the repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis as there remains insufficient support from the international community to help the Kingdom manage the challenges and costs of hosting refugees and providing them with basic services, Khasawneh said.

He also went over the latest regional developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, stressing that this is the region’s first and foremost issue, emphasising that international efforts must be strengthened to achieve a just and permanent peace.

Drawing attention to the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance security, stability and calm in the occupied Palestinian territories, the prime minister affirmed Jordan’s firm rejection of the provocative actions taken by a member of the Israeli government, who used a map of Israel that included portions of the Kingdom and the occupied Palestinian territories within its borders.

He likewise reiterated the country’s rejection of the repeated violations and provocative measures carried out by occupation forces in Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

The guest delegation affirmed the strategic partnership between the US and Jordan, and praised Jordan’s positions in dealing with the challenges facing the region.