Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met in Aqaba on 22 October 2026 to conduct expanded bilateral discussions. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting, stating: "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi is currently holding expanded talks with the Foreign Minister and Expatriates of the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic, Asaad al-Shaibani, in Aqaba." These diplomatic proceedings represent a formal engagement between the two nations held in the port city. The session focuses on regional coordination and the strengthening of ties between Jordan and Syria. Officials convened the meeting to address ongoing cooperation between the respective governments. This high-level summit in Aqaba serves as a continuation of the structured dialogue aimed at fostering closer governmental alignment between Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic.
Recent Diplomatic Engagement Efforts
The diplomatic pathway leading to the Aqaba summit has been characterized by consistent communication and a series of strategic meetings. Ayman Safadi and Asaad al-Shaibani engaged in a telephone conversation on 13 October 2026. This discussion between the two ministers centered on bilateral relations and regional developments. The phone call served to prepare the groundwork for the subsequent face-to-face negotiations that took place in the port city of Aqaba.
Prior to the Aqaba meeting, Ayman Safadi traveled to Damascus on 9 September 2026. He held a meeting there with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to review the status of diplomatic interactions between the two states. This visit allowed for a full assessment of the diplomatic landscape between Amman and Damascus.
Damascus served as the venue for a coordination meeting between Jordanian and Syrian officials on 24 September 2026. Participants during this session evaluated progress on joint projects across several specific areas. The agenda included initiatives in the sectors of energy, transport, trade, communications, agriculture, and water. This meeting was instrumental in defining the technical parameters of the cooperation efforts between the two nations, ensuring that the specific sectors identified for growth were addressed with detailed oversight. The officials examined the operational status of these projects to ensure alignment with the broader goals of their respective governments.
Delegations representing 20 sectors convened in Amman on 12 April 2026 for the second session of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council. This meeting established a formal framework for ongoing cooperation between the two governments. The council's work provides the foundational structure upon which the current diplomatic engagements in Aqaba are built, ensuring that the dialogue remains focused on the practical implementation of bilateral agreements. The commitment shown by both Jordanian and Syrian officials throughout these sessions notes a shared objective to maintain a steady, productive, and formal diplomatic relationship. The collaboration between the 20 sectors involved in the Higher Coordination Council continues to be a central pillar of the bilateral strategy, facilitating progress on the objectives established during the earlier meetings in Amman and Damascus.
