The key facts
- Expanded talks between Safadi and al-Shaibani took place in Aqaba on Thursday
- The visit follows a phone call on October 13 and a meeting in Damascus on September 24
- The sides discussed bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest
Talks in Aqaba
Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi held expanded talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday in the southern Jordanian city of Aqaba. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry announced this on the X platform. Earlier the same day, al-Shaibani arrived at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, where he was met by Safadi, the Syrian state agency SANA reported. According to the agency, the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and to discuss common issues of mutual interest.
Context of Recent Contacts
The visit took place after a phone call between Safadi and al-Shaibani on October 13, during which, according to SANA, bilateral relations and regional events were discussed, and the sides agreed to meet soon to continue the discussions. During that call, Safadi affirmed Jordan's support for Syria's security, sovereignty, and reconstruction efforts; the ministers also condemned Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
Preceding Meetings
On September 24, a coordination meeting of representatives of the two countries took place in Damascus on joint projects in the fields of energy, transport, trade, communications, agriculture, and water resources. Earlier, on September 9, Safadi visited Damascus, where he met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and discussed with al-Shaibani ways to strengthen cooperation and the implementation of the outcomes of the second session of the Higher Jordanian-Syrian Coordination Council. The second session of the council was held in Amman on April 12 with the participation of ministerial delegations representing 20 sectors, to discuss deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation.
