His Majesty King Abdullah II chaired a new round of the Aqaba Process meetings on Thursday, alongside France President Emmanuel Macron and Lebanon President Gen. Joseph Aoun.

The session, held at Les Invalides in Paris, focused on ways to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, and strengthen its capabilities to maintain Lebanon’s security and sovereignty, and ensure that arms remain in the hands of the state.

His Majesty reaffirmed Jordan’s solidarity with the Lebanese people, and its commitment to supporting efforts to preserve their country’s stability and resources.

The session also addressed the priorities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces in Lebanon, as well as operational challenges, and examined mechanisms for international support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in line with identified needs.

In addition to the participants from Jordan, France, and Lebanon, the meetings were attended by military leaders and experts from Spain, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Cyprus, Canada, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Greece, the European Union, the United Nations, and the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon. 

His Majesty launched the Aqaba Process initiative in 2015 with the aim of enhancing coordination, cooperation, and exchange of expertise between various regional and international parties. Previous rounds have been held in Jordan, and other countries and organisations in partnership with Jordan, including Spain, Albania, Indonesia, Italy, Brazil, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Rwanda, Singapore, Norway, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Nations.