Amman, Warsaw seek closer military, security cooperation

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday returned to the Kingdom from a working visit to Poland, according to a Royal Court statement.

Earlier Monday, His Majesty discussed with Poland's Minister of National Defence Antoni Macierewicz in Warsaw ways to boost military and security cooperation, especially in the fields of training and anti-terrorism.

The meeting was attended by King's Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben and King's Office Director Jafar Hassan. 

His Majesty also attended a military drill implemented by Polish special operations units. 

During the visit, King Abdullah discussed regional and international developments and bilateral relations with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Baltic Sea resort of Gdansk.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of taking bilateral relations to a new level, especially in the economy and trade fields, in addition to cooperation in the field of military industries. 

They also discussed ways to build on the memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements already signed between the two countries, especially in light of Jordan’s advanced status with the EU and the recent deal between Amman and Brussels to simplify the rules of origin, which will be applied to designated industrial estates in the Kingdom and grant made-in-Jordan products easier access to European markets. 

Regarding regional and international developments, His Majesty stressed the importance of continued efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist groups in accordance with a comprehensive strategy involving all international partners. 

King Abdullah also highlighted the importance of reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis, highlighting the burdens Jordan is shouldering as a main host of Syrian refugees. 

For his part, Duda welcomed King Abdullah’s visit, describing the encounter as “an important opportunity to strengthen relations and advance them in a way that serves mutual interests, especially in the economic sphere”, the statement said.