jordan pulse -
Dr. Mahmoud Awad Al-Dabbas
As part of a joint study with Dr. Amer Al-Saeida, titled Arab-American Relations, which is in its final stages, we have analysed the content of meetings and press conferences between former U.S. President Donald Trump and various Arab leaders from 2017 to 2020. Today, we focus on King Abdullah II’s meetings with Trump based on available information online and on YouTube.
The two leaders held five meetings, starting in February 2017 and ending in June 2018, with most meetings occurring in 2017. However, these official interactions gradually declined until they ceased entirely.
The primary reason for this decline was Trump’s decision in December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. embassy there. This was followed by the announcement of the “Deal of the Century” and its associated conference in 2019. Since these decisions did not align with the aspirations of the Jordanian or Palestinian people, they impacted the continuity of official meetings between the King and Trump. Their last meeting occurred in mid-June 2018, with no further interactions during Trump’s presidency, which ended in 2020.
However, it is worth noting that Jordan’s official relations with other U.S. institutions and figures continued during this time. Throughout their meetings, Jordan raised concerns about Trump’s policies, which were seen as detrimental to the region.
To provide a comprehensive analysis, we must revisit the meetings between King Abdullah II and Trump from February 2017 to June 2018. These discussions focused on the strong relationship between the two nations, condemnation of the Syrian regime’s crimes, and counterterrorism efforts—topics where both leaders had a high level of agreement. However, their views diverged on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the King advocating for a two-state solution, while Trump avoided this stance.
The pressing question today is why it is important to revisit the period of meetings and their subsequent cessation. The answer lies in Trump’s return to office. On the 20th of this month, Trump officially began his second term as U.S. President. His first-term policies on Middle East peace will likely continue, with greater pressure on nations reliant on U.S. support to adopt his vision for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—even if such solutions are unjust or incomplete.
In conclusion, during Trump’s first term, the areas of agreement between King Abdullah and Trump were accomplished, including defeating terrorism and the fall of the Syrian regime. However, the key issue of contention—the framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Jordan’s role in it—remains unresolved. This will likely resurface during future discussions between the two nations, particularly during an anticipated royal visit to Washington. It is also worth noting that Jordan’s current economic challenges reduce its leverage in rejecting unfair solutions compared to previous years.