On 11 February, King of Jordan Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Al Hashimi conducted his first ever visit to Armenia where he met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian. 

At the meeting with Pashinyan, the parties discussed a number of issues related to the development of Armenian-Jordanian economic and humanitarian relations. “Relations with Jordan are very important to us, because we consider the Middle East and your country as a strategic area of partnership. I am very glad that relations between our countries are intensifying,” Pashinyan said. He said there are several special areas of mutual interest. According to Pashinyan, Armenia can become a good platform for Jordanian businessmen to enter the market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

According to Abdullah II, the Jordanian government is also interested in developing trade and economic relations with Armenia in such areas as tourism, agriculture, information technology and others. In the context of giving a new impetus to bilateral relations, the parties also emphasized the importance of working together to simplify the visa regime.

At the meeting with Sarkissian, the Armenian President described King Abdulah’s II visit as “historic” and expressed confidence that potential, which the two countries could reach in the future, would be much more that it is today.

King Abdullah II said that the two countries were linked by good friendship and history. “We have great reverence towards the oldest Christian Church which is represented not only in Jerusalem but in our country too. It represents part of our past and is a beautiful element not only of our present but also of our future,” he underscored. The speakers noted that great opportunities exist for cooperation in the areas of high-tech, education, science, and healthcare. The necessity of expanding the already existing student exchange program, as well as the establishment of a direct air link between the capitals of the two countries, Yerevan and Amman, was stressed at the meeting.

The King of Jordan also called for Armenian support for his position on the status of Jerusalem after holding separate talks with Sarkissian and Pashinyan. “Preserving the city’s identity and its legal status, as well as the historic status quo in relation to holy sites, Islamic and Christian alike, is going to be key,” he said. “So, we look to Christian leaders and friends like you and around the world to work with us in safeguarding Jerusalem as a unifying city of peace,” he underlined. Jordan is reportedly concerned about an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan put forward by the United States. Amman has been particularly sensitive to any changes of status in Jerusalem after U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize it as Israel’s capital.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan were established in 1996. The two countries have concluded 11 bilateral agreements so far (starting from 2012) which established cooperation in various fields.