In a rare and symbolic gesture, Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II personally drove Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a museum in the kingdom on Tuesday. The move reflected the close and cordial relations between the two countries.
PM Modi arrived in Jordan’s capital, Amman, on Monday. Jordanian Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan received him on arrival. Soon after, Modi met King Abdullah II for talks.
As part of his official engagements, the Crown Prince took Modi in his car on Tuesday, drawing attention to the warmth of the visit.
Jordan’s Royal Lineage and Religious Role
Jordan’s Royal Family traces its lineage directly to Prophet Muhammad through Imam Hasan, the elder grandson of the Prophet through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali.
King Abdullah II is regarded as the 41st descendant of the Prophet. Crown Prince Hussein is considered the 43rd descendant. King Abdullah also serves as the custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The site is Islam’s third holiest shrine after Mecca and Medina.
Modi Praises King Abdullah’s Leadership
During their meeting, PM Modi praised King Abdullah’s leadership, especially on security matters. He appreciated Abdullah’s role in “tackling terrorism, extremism and radicalization and contributing towards global fight against these evils”, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Talks Focus on Expanding Bilateral Cooperation
Both leaders discussed ways to strengthen engagement across a wide range of sectors. According to the MEA, these include trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, fertilizer and agriculture, innovation, IT and digital technologies, critical minerals, infrastructure, health and pharmaceuticals, education and capacity building, tourism and heritage, as well as culture and people-to-people ties.
Key MoUs Finalised During the Visit
During the visit, India and Jordan finalised several memorandums of understanding. These MoUs cover culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure, and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora.
The agreements aim to give fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation and cultural exchange.
Leaders Address India-Jordan Business Forum
After completing delegation-level and restricted-format meetings, PM Modi and King Abdullah addressed the India-Jordan Business Forum in Amman on Tuesday.
Crown Prince Hussein also attended the event, along with Jordan’s trade minister Yarub Qudah and investment minister Tareq Abughazaleh.
During their speeches, Modi and Abdullah stressed the need to strengthen business-to-business ties. They urged industry leaders from both countries to turn potential opportunities into growth and shared prosperity, the MEA said.