Gargash says ‘stand with Jordan’ as region backs King Abdullah

Statement came after Jordanian authorities arrested a number of high-ranking officials on 'security grounds'

The UAE's diplomatic adviser to the president, Anwar Gargash, is seen during meeting in Jeddah,in 2019. Reuters

Jordan’s ability to weather crises is inspiring and both the region and the international community back the stability of the country, UAE presidential adviser Dr Anwar Gargash tweeted on Sunday.

Just hours after Jordanian authorities said that a number of high-ranking officials had been detained on "security grounds", allies in the region and internationally issued statements of support for King Abdullah and the Jordanian government.

“The stability of brotherly Jordan is subject to Arab and international consensus,” Dr Gargash tweeted. “Its rational policy and its construction of bridges in a troubled region were not an easy option, but it was and remains the necessary approach.”

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  Jordan's State Security Court in the capital, Amman. AP Photo

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  Bassem Awadallah, a former right-hand man of King Abdullah II. Mr Awadallah, who played a major role developing the country's economic policy, was arrested on 'security grounds'. EPA

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  Officials, the military and state media denied reports that former crown prince Hamzah bin Hussein had been detained or his movement restricted. AFP

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  King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan. Jordanian Royal Palace

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  Jordan's King Abdullah; Queen Noor, widow of late King Hussein; and Queen Rania posing for a picture with Prince Hamzah, half-brother of Jordan's King Abdullah and his new wife Princess Basma Otoum in 2012. AFP, HO

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  Jordan's Prince Hamzah with his mother Queen Noor. AP File

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  A frame maker in Amman displays a picture of king Abdullah II. EPA

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  A frame maker in Amman displays a picture of king Abdullah II. EPA

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  A frame maker in Amman displays pictures of king Abdullah II. EPA

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  Prince Ali with his half brother King Abdullah of Jordan as they walk together in the funeral procession of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Cairo on November 12, 2004. EPA, file

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  Prince Hamzah, right, and Prince Hashem Bin Al Hussein, left, half brothers of King Abdullah II of Jordan. AP, File

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  Jordan’s King Abdullah II laughs with his half brother Prince Hamzah, right, shortly before the monarch embarked on a tour of the United States. AP, file

He said that the Hashemite family’s ability to overcome crises and preserve the state in the most difficult times was “inspiring”, so “let us turn today and every day towards Jordan, its leadership and its people”.

The statement from Dr Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, came as the Emirate’s Ministry of Presidential Affairs said the nation “affirmed its full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”, state-run Wam news agency said.

The UAE “expressed its full support for any measures taken by the King of Jordan, King Abdullah II, and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah to preserve the security and stability of Jordan and defuse any attempt that seeks to jeopardise either”.

“Based on the close and historical ties that bind the two brotherly countries and their leaderships, the UAE affirms that the security and stability of Jordan is an integral part of its own security,” the ministry added.

Iraq too expressed support to Jordan "for all measures that are taken to protect the stability and security of the country and the interests of the brotherly Jordanian people".

Oman said it was following developments with interest and that it supports King Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia was quick to issue a statement of support for the Jordanian government on Saturday night, emphasising that it would "stand by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and give its full support with all its capabilities for all decisions and measures taken by King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and His Highness Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, Crown Prince, to maintain security and stability".

The Arab League, GCC, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, Yemen, Palestine, and others also backed King Abdullah.

Regional reactions to the situation in Jordan

Arab League: 

"The secretary general of the Arab League expressed full solidarity with the measures taken by the Jordanian leadership to maintain the security of the kingdom and maintain stability," the Arab League said in a statement on its Facebook page, citing its head Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

GCC: 

The Gulf Co-operation Council "affirmed the full support of the Co-operation Council for all decisions and measures taken by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, to preserve the security and stability of brotherly Jordan, wishing brotherly Jordan continued security and stability under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Highness, the faithful Crown Prince," Secretary General Nayef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf said in a statement on the GCC's website.

Kuwait: 

Kuwait's foreign ministry expressed "its support to all the measures taken by Jordan's King Abdullah and his Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, to maintain the security and stability of the kingdom", adding that "the security and stability of the kingdom are that of Kuwait".

Bahrain: 

"His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa affirmed full support to the decisions and measures taken by HM King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan to maintain his country's security and stability and defuse all disruptive attempts," state news agency BNA reported.

Egypt: 

Egypt voiced its support for King Abdullah and his efforts "to maintain the security and stability of the kingdom against any attempts to undermine it", a spokesman for the Egyptian presidency wrote on Facebook.

Palestine: 

"Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that we stand by the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the king, the government, and the people," official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Yemen:

"Yemen affirms its absolute support and totally stands with all decisions and measures taken by His Majesty King Abdullah aimed at maintaining security and ending any attempts to destabilise the sisterly Kingdom of Jordan," the Yemeni government said in a statement released on state news agency Saba.

Qatar: 

"Qatar affirmed that the security and stability of Jordan is an integral part of its security and stability, and stressed that the developed strategic relations between the two brotherly countries will remain an honest and strong guard against any attempts to undermine the security and stability in the two countries and the region," state news agency QNA said.

Lebanon:

"Jordan's security and safety is a fundamental basis for the security and safety of the Arab world," Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri said on Twitter. "All the solidarity with the Jordanian leadership and King Abdullah in defending the gains of the Jordanian people, protecting their stability, and refusing interference in their affairs."

Israel: 

"This is an internal Jordanian matter. Jordan is a neighbor and strategic ally with whom we have peaceful relations," said Defence Minister Benny Gantz at a press conference on Sunday.

"We need to do everything necessary to maintain that alliance, which is ongoing for over 30 years. A strong, thriving Jordan is an Israeli security and economic interest and we need to do everything we can to assist them. They are contending with economic and health challenges and I am in favor of the State of Israel giving them whatever aid they need. It isn't only my call and I hope that the PMO [Prime Minister's Office] and NSC [National Security Council] get on board as well. As I said, as far as the internal developments there are concerned, that is a domestic issue."