Jordan, Saudi Arabia upgrade coordination council as Amman condemns Houthi attacks

By Laith Al-jnaidi and Ikram Kouachi

AMMAN, Jordan / ISTANBUL (AA) - Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed an amended protocol Wednesday to restructure their Supreme Coordination Council and strengthen its role in expanding bilateral cooperation, under the leadership of Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The agreement was signed during expanded talks in Riyadh between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The protocol aims to “strengthen the council’s role in institutionalizing and expanding cooperation and coordination between the two countries,” replacing the Jordanian-Saudi Joint Committee, it said.

The two foreign ministers will head the council’s general secretariat, and their ministries will follow up on its work, including preparations for its meetings and those of its affiliated committees and working groups.

The council was established in 2016, when King Abdullah and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz witnessed the signing of its founding agreement in Riyadh to strengthen cooperation and coordination across various fields.

During the talks, Safadi affirmed Jordan’s “absolute solidarity with Saudi Arabia in confronting attacks by the Houthi group,” saying his country stood alongside the kingdom in its efforts to protect its security, stability, sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents.

He reiterated Jordan’s condemnation of attacks targeting civilians and civilian and economic facilities as a “blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter” and a violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and stability.

On regional developments, Safadi and bin Farhan discussed efforts to end the escalation, contain its regional and international repercussions, and restore calm on foundations that guarantee lasting security and stability, the statement said.

Their talks also covered respect for international law, good-neighborly relations, non-interference in the affairs of other countries, and “freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.”

On the economic front, trade between the two countries exceeded $4 billion in 2025, accounting for 14% of Jordan’s total trade, making Saudi Arabia the kingdom’s second-largest trading partner, according to the statement.

Saudi investments in Jordan amounted to around $16 billion in sectors including transport, tourism, financial services and trade, it said, noting that the number of Saudi tourists visiting Jordan also increased by about 14% in 2025.

The two ministers said the signing of the protocol would provide additional momentum to bilateral cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to further developing relations and maintaining coordination and consultations on shared regional and international issues.

Ikrame Imane Kouachi