The meeting between King Abdullah and Trump: Before and after

The meeting between His Majesty King Abdullah and US President Donald Trump today will not be an easy or merely protocol-based encounter.

It comes in the wake of alarming and controversial statements made by Trump regarding the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza; statements he has reiterated multiple times and even escalated after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This presents a significant challenge in offering an alternative narrative that might prompt Trump to reconsider his stance within a short period.

According to Jordanian political analysts, two key developments may slightly alter the situation. First, there appears to be a near-universal Arab and international consensus rejecting Trump’s statements, even among America’s closest allies, such as the United Kingdom.

This places Trump in an isolated position, and paradoxically, his meeting with the King could provide him with a logical exit strategy from these remarks.

The second development is that there are already signs of Trump and some members of his team reconsidering their position.

Nevertheless, the King’s meeting with Trump remains fraught with challenges and risks.

Another perspective, shared by Western, Arab and Jordanian analysts and politicians, views Trump’s statements through a psychological lens, suggesting that they are part of a negotiating strategy rather than a firm position.

According to this analysis, Trump may be using such extreme positions as leverage to pressure Palestinians and Arabs into making concessions in return for what appears to be “compromises” from him.

However, this interpretation is risky as it overlooks the deep conviction of a US-Israeli right-wing faction in such catastrophic proposals.

This is evident from the strong support Trump’s statements have received from figures close to his administration, his far-right team, and the Israeli right.

Moreover, this is not the first time that the idea of displacement has been proposed by American officials.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously suggested it during his first visit to Amman following the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation, a proposal strongly rejected by Jordan and Egypt.

This raised concerns among Jordanian officials that it could serve as a prelude to further displacement, particularly from the West Bank.

The danger of Trump’s statements goes beyond the issue of Gaza’s displacement.

Jordanian officials and the public are deeply concerned about the broader challenge of dealing with Trump’s administration over the next four years.

There is also a perception, partially public and partially discussed within Zionist and right-wing circles, about reviving the so-called “Jordanian Option.”

This involves dissolving the Palestinian Authority, reducing the Palestinian issue to a matter of isolated and besieged population groups, and expanding Israel’s territory, objectives Trump himself promised during his campaign and reaffirmed during his meeting with Netanyahu.

This situation places a significant burden on Jordan, particularly in terms of diplomatic and political maneuvering.

Regional leverage remains limited, given the imbalance of power and Netanyahu’s government’s sense of military superiority.

While there is Arab support for Jordan and Egypt, evident in the Arab Ministerial Six-Party Meeting in Cairo and the Arab League’s position, there are undeniable differences in the firmness of Arab stances and the perception of the centrality of the Palestinian cause.

In previous decades, the Palestinian issue was a unifying concern for the Arab political establishment, even if only in rhetoric.

Today, the minimum level of solidarity prevails, making it crucial to seek support from other regional, global, and Islamic powers, such as Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, that could collectively form a bloc capable of slightly shifting the balance of power.

In summary, Jordan faces a difficult turning point due to the dangerous developments in the occupied territories and the complexities of dealing with the new US administration.

The country may be heading toward unconventional scenarios and difficult choices.