King returns to Jordan after Europe tour

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah returned to Jordan on Monday after a Europe tour that included Austria, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.

During the tour, King Abdullah met with leaders and senior officials to discuss enhancing Jordan’s ties with these countries, in addition to the latest regional and international developments, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty started the tour in Austria, where he held talks with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, and attended a tactical exercise at the premises of the Austrian Special Task Force Unit — EKO Cobra.

In Poland, the King held talks with President Andrzej Duda.

In Germany, His Majesty met with Chancellor Angela Merkel, and bestowed on her the Order of the Bejewelled Grand Cordon of Al Nahda (Order of the Renaissance), in recognition of her relentless efforts to enhance friendship and expand cooperation between Jordan and Germany.

In the final leg of the tour, the King met in London with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, chairs and members of the House of Commons foreign affairs and defence committees, the All-Party Parliamentary Jordan Group, and a number of parliamentary and academic figures, and thought leaders.