Biden to host Jordan's King Abdullah this week

King's second trip to Washington since President Joe Biden took office

US President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah II met at the White House in July 2021. AP

Jordan's King Abdullah II will visit President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday, marking the king's second visit to the US capital since Mr Biden came into office.

The visit “will reinforce the close friendship and enduring partnership between the United States and Jordan”, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Jordan is a critical force for stability in the Middle East and strategic partner and ally of the United States.”

Talks will centre on bolstering the strategic partnership between the two countries and the latest regional and international developments, the Jordanian embassy in Washington said.

The White House meeting follows a similar visit in July 2021.

At that time, Mr Biden stressed his long-standing relationship with the king, noting that it went back decades, to when his father, King Hussein, ruled Jordan.

King Abdullah is in the US as part of a broader tour of the country.

Last week, he visited the US Central Command's headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and met its new commander, Gen Michael Kurilla, as well as the head of US Special Operations Command, Gen Richard Clarke.

The two meetings covered ways of enhancing military and defence co-operation between Jordan and the US, Amman said.

Accompanied by his son, Crown Prince Hussein, the king met with senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday for a working lunch

Chairman Bob Menendez said the committee “looks forward to supporting Jordan's implementation of crucial reforms to ensure lasting stability and to working together to advance our nations' mutual interests”.

Prince Hussein is no stranger to Washington, having graduated from Georgetown University in 2016. He accompanied his father on last year's White House visit.

This week's trip comes during a spate of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories that has left dozens dead since late March.

King Abdullah appealed last month for “calm” between the two sides.