Biden hosts King Abdullah II at the White House
US President Joe Biden hosts Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House today.
Abdullah will be the first Arab head of state to visit the White House since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The visit follows a recent drone attack on a small US outpost in Jordan where three US Army soldiers were killed. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of militias backed by Iran, claimed responsibility.
Within the context of growing regional violence and instability across the Middle East, the attack in Jordan reflects Amman’s precarious position in the crossfire between the Israel-Gaza conflict and broader conflicts in the region, including Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
Immediately following the meeting, Abdullah and Biden are likely to reaffirm their commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Abdullah is also expected to call for a ceasefire to protect Jordanian security interests. However, Biden will likely be reluctant to join in a call for a ceasefire due to domestic pressures and US-Israeli ties. Instead, expect Biden to formally support a two-state solution which could also be leveraged in efforts to normalize Saudi-Israeli relations. Finally, the emerging threat of Iranian proxies expanding their influence into Jordan would likely be a major blow to US and Israeli interests in the region.
