King Abdullah of Jordan expressed concern Wednesday that the vacuum left behind by Russian troops who left southern Syria as the country shifts focus on the Ukraine war will be filled with Iran and its proxies, complicating matters along the kingdom's border.
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Abdullah was interviewed in the United States by former National Security Advisor Herbert McMaster, now a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. The monarch visited the US with the aim of "coordinating with friends and planning tactically and strategically for 2022," he said.
When asked about Iran, Abdullah said, "Of course, we want everyone to be part of a new Middle East and to move forward, but we have security challenges. [There are] border attacks on a regular basis and we know who's behind that."
Abdullah said Russia's presence in southern Syria was "a source of calm, because they were making sure that we would deconflict ... that vacuum will be filled by the Iranians and their proxies. So unfortunately, we are looking at maybe an escalation of problems on our borders."
He expressed hope that Arab leaders in the region would find a solution to their problems, instead of relying on the US.
"So you will see Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Egypt, and some of the other Gulf countries really coming together to tie in and chart a vision for their peoples and have that coordination" before requesting any help, Abdullah said.
Nevertheless, the leader hailed Jordan-US ties as "based on trust" and "one of the strongest in the region."
Abdullah also addressed the recent wave of violence between Palestinians and Israelis, warning that American presidents ignore the Middle East "at their own peril."
"The only solution that allows Israel's integration into the Middle East is when we solve the issues for the Palestinians," he said.
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