U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan as part of his extensive tour of the Middle East. In Jordan, Blinken is set to meet with King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman. His visit comes after his recent stop in Israel, where he reiterated the United States’ unwavering support and urged Israel to adhere to the rules of war in response to Hamas attacks.
Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank, is a political rival to Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. Following his visit to Jordan, Blinken is expected to travel to Qatar, a nation with longstanding ties to Hamas. Additionally, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has arrived in Israel for discussions with the Israeli Defense Minister. These visits reflect the United States’ engagement with key regional players as it seeks to address complex geopolitical and security challenges in the Middle East.