The formation of a NATO-style military alliance in the Middle East region has been supported according to a statement by Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
In an interview with a US-based network, King Abdullah II said, “The kingdom works actively with NATO and sees itself as a partner of the alliance, having fought shoulder-to-shoulder with NATO troops for decades.”
His desire to see “more countries in the area come into that mix,” the Jordanian monarch expressed.
He added, “I would be one of the first people that would endorse a Middle East NATO.”
The vision and mission statement for such a military alliance must “be very clear, and its role should be well defined,” King Abdullah II said.
Stressing that “insecurities and instability in the region will affect regional projects,” he went on to call on Arab countries to help each other.
The monarch said, “The goal needs to be a win-win solution.”
The “Israel-Palestinian conflict has the potential to derail plans and cooperation in the Middle East,” the monarch indicated.
He further stated, “If they’re not talking to each other, that creates insecurities and instability in the region that will affect regional projects.”
The Jordanian king put a “question mark” on “Iran’s role in the region.”
In addition, he expressed, “Nobody wants war, nobody wants conflict, but it remains to be seen whether countries in the Middle East can work toward a vision where prosperity is the name of the game.”
King Abdullah II’s interview comes ahead of a planned summit between US President Joe Biden and Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia next month.
