King Felipe VI begins his first official visit to Jordan this Saturday at a time of maximum voltage in the region after the escalation between Israeli army and the Lebanese Shiite militia party Hezbollah in Lebanon and the recent attack Iran against Israel, to which the latter promised to respond.
Invited by King Abdullah II, the monarch was initially going to travel accompanied by Queen Letizia for a visit prepared for months and which Circumstances forced a change.
Thus, from Zarzuela, it was reported on Tuesday evening, after Iran had attacked Israel with some 200 missiles, many of which flew over Jordanthat the trip was maintained but that the modification of the format and the agenda was being evaluated.
Finally, on Wednesday, it was decided that only the King would travel, who would be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as planned from the start. Jose Manuel Albares, and shorten the stay to less than 24 hours, instead of staying until Monday, according to the original plan.
The minister affirmed that the decision to maintain the trip, as well as the dates and format, both those initial and those planned now, were taken by the King’s Household, with the approval of the Government, thus denying any pressure to do so. subject. the visit be maintained in the current circumstances.
Furthermore, Albares explained this Friday in an interview with Antenna 3, that the embassy in Amman assured that the security conditions were met so that the head of state’s trip could take place.
“This is a very important trip, even more so at this moment, where once again the leadership, the strength and the specific weight of Spain are manifested on all world stages”, affirmed the head of diplomacy.
From Foreign Affairs they indicated, when announcing the visit on September 26, that the trip was part of the “good relations between the two countries” and constitutes a favorable opportunity to “express the desire to continue to strengthen the deep historical, political, cultural and human ties that exist between Jordan and Spain.”
The fact that the monarch is visiting Jordan in the current situation is an example of the importance that Spain attaches to its relations with this country and a reflection of the close relations that exist between the two royal houses.
The two monarchs met on June 20, 2023 at the Palacio de la Merced in Córdoba, during the meeting of the Aqaba Process dedicated to West Africa and the Sahel. In addition, Abdullah II visited Spain in December last year and had separate meetings with the king and the president of the government, Pedro Sánchez.
Visit agenda
Having reduced the trip to just 24 hours, Felipe VI’s schedule in Amman will be very busy. Thus, upon arrival on Saturday afternoon, the traditional reception with the Spanish community of Jordan is planned, which generally takes place during this type of trip.
Already Sunday, The King will have the opportunity to visit the Baqaa refugee campthe largest of six Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan and established in 1968 following the Six Day War. According to the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), it currently hosts more than 90,000 people.
Afterwards, Felipe VI will be received at Al Husseiniya Palace by Abdallah IIwhere both will hold a bilateral meeting which will be followed by a working lunch which will close the visit.
