In a significant diplomatic manoeuvre, Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, will engage in discussions today with King Abdullah II of Jordan at Palazzo Chigi.
This pivotal meeting, scheduled to take place after the Council of Ministers’ gathering, will also feature the presence of Vice President of the Council and Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani, along with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi. Notably, the latter pair had convened just last Friday during the visit of Italy’s Foreign Affairs head to Amman.
King Abdullah’s tour of European Union countries commences in Italy, with subsequent stops planned in Berlin and Paris. The primary focus of this diplomatic mission is to address the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, exacerbated by the offensive launched by the Palestinian Hamas movement against Israel on 7 October. This initiative by the Jordanian sovereign aims to apply pressure on European states to prevent further military escalation.
King Abdullah’s objectives extend beyond military concerns to the humanitarian realm. The Hashemite sovereign, shared by Italy, seeks to facilitate the opening of humanitarian corridors once a ceasefire is secured or military operations are curtailed, enabling the safe evacuation of approximately two million residents from the Gaza Strip.
Equally important is his ambition to secure the European Union’s involvement in reinvigorating political negotiations. These negotiations must take into account Israel’s security requirements and the legitimate state aspirations of the Palestinian National Authority.
In addition to these diplomatic goals, the meeting between King Abdullah and Prime Minister Meloni will underscore the strong bilateral relations between Italy and Jordan. It will also enhance coordination between the two nations regarding the ongoing regional crisis. The intensifying clashes on Israel’s northern border with Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah have raised concerns about the conflict’s expansion. Thus, it becomes crucial to glean insights from the Jordanian monarch on this matter.
Furthermore, Italy recognizes Jordan as a priority country for Italian Cooperation, as defined in a bilateral agreement signed in 2018. Italian Cooperation, as per the updated 2023 plan, has multi-year initiatives with a total value of 8.4 million euros.
These initiatives encompass sectors such as vocational training, safeguarding cultural heritage, healthcare, and water infrastructure. An additional four million euros are allocated for emergency initiatives, cementing the bond between the two nations.
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