Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, Apr. 20, 2023
“The Jordan-Saudi meeting is important because it shows how Saudi Arabia is positioning itself in leadership in the Arab world again.”
King Abdullah and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Thursday at the Royal Palace in Jeddah. They discussed bilateral ties and regional issues, according to Jordanian state media.
“King Abdullah and Crown Prince Mohammed expressed pride in the strong, historical relations between the two countries and peoples, stressing keenness on expanding cooperation in all fields,” Jordan’s Petra News said.
A new era of Diplomacy
This is the latest important meeting the Saudis have held in the region. It is part of a new era of diplomacy and Riyadh is the center of these developments. Saudi Arabia sent its foreign minister to Damascus this week, an important symbol of normalization with the Syrian regime. The Saudis have also reconciled with Iran in a deal brokered by China and Iraq.
In addition, talks in Oman appear to be helping end the war in Yemen where Saudi intervened in 2015. Saudi Arabia hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas this week as well. Hamas leaders were also in Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen travelled to two Muslim countries this week, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. AL-Arabiya in the Gulf noted that Cohen said a visit to Saudi Arabia was “on the table.” US Senator Lindsey Graham was also in Israel this week and discussed possible Israel-Saudi ties.
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