Crown Prince Hussein meets France defense minister to expand military ties

HRH Crown Prince Hussein, acting as Regent, met with France’s Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans, Alice Rufo, on Tuesday, 28 July at Al Husseiniya Palace to discuss expanding bilateral military and defense cooperation. \n\n The discussions focused on the existing strategic partnership between Amman and Paris, specifically targeting shared security interests in the Middle East. Prince Hussein and Minister Rufo reviewed ongoing efforts to coordinate logistics and defense training programs between the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and the French military. \n\n Regional security and humanitarian efforts \n A primary agenda item during the session was the deteriorating security situation in the Gaza Strip. The Regent emphasized the necessity of an immediate and permanent ceasefire to prevent further regional escalation. Both parties addressed the logistical requirements for increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into the territory, where Jordanian and French air forces have previously cooperated on cargo airdrops. \n\n The meeting occurs as France seeks to stabilize its defense footprint in the Levant following a series of diplomatic high-level exchanges between King Abdullah II and President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year. The timing is driven by the official diplomatic visit of the French delegation to Amman to formalize defense coordination schedules for the remainder of 2026. \n\n Future defense coordination \n The meeting reflects Jordan’s role as a…