AMMAN, Jordan / ISTANBUL – In a move underscoring Jordan's active role in global diplomacy, King Abdullah II departed Amman on Tuesday for a multi-nation European tour encompassing Italy, the Vatican, Hungary, and Slovenia. The itinerary, announced by the Royal Hashemite Court, aims to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster economic partnerships, and deliberate on pressing issues of regional stability, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This journey follows closely on the heels of the king's participation in a high-level Gaza peace summit in Egypt, highlighting Jordan's relentless diplomatic efforts amid escalating tensions in the region.
The tour commences in Italy, where King Abdullah is set to engage with top Italian leadership. According to the official statement from the royal court, the monarch will hold audiences with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. These meetings are expected to cover a broad spectrum of topics, from trade and investment opportunities to shared concerns over migration flows across the Mediterranean and energy security in light of global disruptions. Italy, as a key European Union member and a Mediterranean powerhouse, has long been a strategic partner for Jordan, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $1.2 billion in 2023, primarily in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and tourism.
A highlight of the Italian leg will be the king's co-chairing of a new round of the Aqaba Meetings, an anti-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah in 2015. Named after Jordan's Red Sea port city of Aqaba, where the inaugural gatherings took place, this forum has evolved into a vital platform for international collaboration against terrorism and violent extremism. The Aqaba Process brings together heads of state, security experts, and intelligence officials from over 50 countries, including major powers like the United States, Russia, and several European nations. Past iterations have focused on intelligence-sharing protocols, deradEngineered radicalization strategies, and counter-financing measures for terrorist networks.
This year's session in Italy is particularly timely, occurring against the backdrop of heightened global security threats. Recent reports from Europol indicate a 20% rise in terrorism-related incidents in Europe in 2024, attributed partly to spillover effects from Middle Eastern conflicts and the activities of groups like ISIS remnants and far-right extremists. King Abdullah, drawing on Jordan's frontline experience in combating ISIS during the 2010s— including the kingdom's pivotal role in the U.S.-led coalition—will likely emphasize integrated approaches that combine military action with ideological countermeasures. Italian Prime Minister Meloni, known for her tough stance on security and migration, has expressed support for such initiatives, aligning with her government's priorities on border control and counter-terrorism funding within the EU framework.
From Italy, the tour proceeds to the Vatican, marking a significant interfaith and diplomatic milestone. King Abdullah is scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff to hail from Asia since the early centuries of Christianity, who assumed the papacy in May 2025 following the passing of Pope Francis. This will be their inaugural encounter, symbolizing continuity in the Vatican-Jordan relations that have been nurtured over decades. Jordan, home to a significant Christian minority and custodian of holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, has historically enjoyed warm ties with the Holy See. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, has prioritized interreligious dialogue in his early papacy, advocating for peace in conflict zones like the Middle East and Ukraine.
Discussions at the Vatican are anticipated to touch on humanitarian crises, particularly the plight of refugees from Gaza and Syria, where Jordan hosts over 1.3 million Syrian refugees alone, straining its resources. The pope's recent encyclical on global solidarity, issued in July 2025, called for enhanced international aid mechanisms, resonating with Jordan's appeals for burden-sharing. King Abdullah may also seek the Vatican's moral influence in advocating for a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a position Amman has consistently upheld. Historically, Vatican diplomacy has played subtle yet impactful roles in Middle Eastern peace processes, as seen in the 2014 baptism of Jordanian Prince Hashem by Pope Francis and joint statements on Jerusalem's status.
The itinerary then shifts eastward to Hungary, a nation with which Jordan shares growing economic and political alignments despite geographical distance. In Budapest, King Abdullah will meet President Tamás Sulyok, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and members of the Hungarian Parliament. Hungary, under Orbán's leadership since 2010, has positioned itself as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, with investments in Jordanian infrastructure and education. Bilateral relations have strengthened through agreements on water management technology—critical for Jordan's arid climate—and agricultural exchanges. In 2024, Hungarian exports to Jordan, including machinery and vehicles, totaled around €150 million, reflecting a 15% year-on-year increase.
Security and energy will likely dominate talks, given Hungary's reliance on diverse energy sources amid the Russia-Ukraine war's ripple effects. Orbán's government has advocated for pragmatic dialogues with Middle Eastern stakeholders, including on counter-terrorism. Jordan's expertise in border security, honed through its 370-kilometer frontier with Syria and Iraq, could inform Hungary's approaches to migration challenges. Parliamentary engagements may explore cultural exchanges, building on the 2023 opening of a Jordanian cultural center in Budapest. Critics of Orbán's illiberal policies notwithstanding, this visit underscores Jordan's non-ideological foreign policy, prioritizing pragmatic partnerships.
The tour culminates in Slovenia, where King Abdullah will attend the Med9 Summit in Ljubljana, a gathering of southern European nations focused on Mediterranean issues. Hosted by Slovenia this year, the Med9—comprising Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, and Slovenia—addresses climate change, maritime security, and economic resilience. King Abdullah's invitation for the second consecutive year makes him the sole non-European leader in attendance, a testament to Jordan's perceived role as a Mediterranean-Middle East linchpin. The summit, themed "Sustainable Mediterranean Futures" in 2025, will discuss EU enlargement, green energy transitions, and responses to regional instability.
In Ljubljana, bilateral meetings with President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob will follow. Slovenia, an EU and NATO member with a population of just over 2 million, has emerged as a vocal supporter of Palestinian statehood within Europe, aligning with Jordan's positions. Trade between the two nations, though modest at €50 million annually, is growing in pharmaceuticals and IT sectors. Discussions may cover Slovenia's expertise in water conservation and renewable energy, areas where Jordan seeks innovation amid its severe water scarcity—exacerbated by climate change and refugee influxes.
The royal court statement refrained from detailing the tour's exact duration, estimated at five to seven days based on similar past engagements. This trip comes one day after King Abdullah's involvement in the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, co-hosted by Egypt, Jordan, and international mediators. That summit, attended by representatives from Palestine, Israel, the U.S., and Qatar, yielded commitments to extend humanitarian ceasefires and boost aid corridors into Gaza, where over 42,000 deaths have been reported since October 2023 per Gaza health authorities. Jordan's mediation efforts, including its air drops of aid and field hospitals, were praised, but challenges persist with ongoing blockades.
Contextually, this European swing reflects broader Jordanian foreign policy imperatives. Economically strained by regional turmoil—tourism down 30% in 2024 due to proximity to conflicts—the kingdom seeks European investments under the EU-Jordan Association Agreement, which has facilitated €1.5 billion in aid since 2011. Politically, Amman balances relations with Western allies while navigating ties with Russia and China. King Abdullah's personal diplomacy, having met over 50 world leaders in the past year alone, positions Jordan as a moderate voice in a polarized world.
Analysts view the tour as strategic timing. With EU parliamentary elections in 2024 shifting dynamics toward center-right policies, engagements with leaders like Meloni and Orbán could influence EU stances on Middle East aid. The Vatican's involvement adds a moral dimension, potentially amplifying calls for de-escalation in Gaza. In Hungary and Slovenia, focus on security and sustainability aligns with global agendas like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, where Jordan ranks moderately but faces hurdles in poverty reduction (15% rate in 2024).
Potential outcomes include new memoranda on counter-terrorism training, renewable energy projects—such as Italian solar tech transfers—and enhanced EU funding for Jordan's refugee programs. Risks involve domestic backdrops: Italy's migration debates, Hungary's EU tensions, and Slovenia's upcoming presidency rotations.
Overall, King Abdullah's tour exemplifies proactive statecraft from a resource-limited monarchy punch above its weight in diplomacy. As the Middle East grapples with post-Gaza reconstruction estimates exceeding $50 billion (World Bank figures), Jordan's bridges to Europe could unlock vital support, fostering stability beyond its borders. This journey not only bolsters alliances but reinforces Jordan's narrative as a beacon of moderation in turbulent times.
